A child suffering from severe cirrhosis is being treated at a Children's Hospital in HCM City. — Photo dantri.com.vn

HCM CITY — The Children's Hospital 2 in HCM City resumed liver transplants on Monday after an 8-month hiatus.

The suspension of transplants was caused by difficulties in obtaining the necessary certifications for adult organ transplantation, limited operating rooms, a shortage of staff, and a shortage of organ donors for transplantation, according to the hospital.

This led to many families with children suffering from end-stage liver disease having to seek treatment in Hà Nội, resulting in longer travel distances and higher costs.

The hospital will perform liver transplant surgeries for two boys on the waiting list this week, Dân Trí (Intellectual) online newspaper reported.

The first case is an 11-year-old boy named L.G.B. from Bình Định Province. He was born with biliary atresia and underwent an intestinal bypass surgery when he was just one month old. After more than 10 years of doctors' best attempts to help him, he has developed severe liver cirrhosis. A liver transplant is his last hope and his mother has decided to donate a portion of her liver to save him.

The liver transplant surgery for B. was scheduled for Monday morning, with help from medical teams of two hospitals in HCM City. The surgeon from Children's Hospital 2 is responsible for the liver transplant, while the HCM City Medicine and Pharmacy University will assist in obtaining the donated liver.

Three days later, Children's Hospital 2 will proceed with another liver transplant surgery for a second child. This case also involves a child with biliary atresia receiving a liver donation from the biological mother.

Dr. Phạm Ngọc Thạch, deputy director of the hospital, said that despite the limited physical facilities, the current operating room is still capable of performing organ transplants.

The hospital mainly encounters difficulties when operating rooms need to accommodate complex undertakings like open-heart surgeries and neurosurgery.

Children's Hospital 2 has sent a request letter to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital for assistance in obtaining organs from adult donors for surgeries.

Regarding the fact that patients from this hospital have travelled to Hà Nội in search of liver transplant opportunities, Dr. Thạch said that Children's Hospital 2 maintains contact and will exchange information with the Vietnam National Children's Hospital to monitor the lab results and health status of the children.

Children's Hospital 2 will publicly announce the resumption of liver transplants to allow parents to bring their children back for treatment if needed. The hospital will also have policies in place to support the expenses of families facing financial difficulties. — VNS