City International Hospital in HCM City. — Photo from of the hospital

HCM CITY — HCM City's health department late Tuesday has ordered a comprehensive review into the death of a 65-year-old Australian woman following cosmetic surgery at an international hospital.

The woman was transferred to Gia Định People's Hospital, a tier 1 public hospital of HCM City, on September 20 in critical condition after undergoing surgery at City International Hospital.

According to medical records, she underwent breast lift and implant surgery on September 4, followed by abdominal and flank liposuction and a tummy tuck five days later.

The patient had several risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure and sleep apnea, for which he used a CPAP machine at home.

She later developed shortness of breath, abdominal swelling and worsening pain. Doctors found a perforated sigmoid colon diverticulum and localised peritonitis, prompting emergency surgery on September 19.

Her condition deteriorated despite intensive treatment, including VV-ECMO, and she died on September 22 at Gia Định People's Hospital.

The municipal health department has asked the international hospital to convene a medical review panel and has invited surgical and cosmetic surgery specialists to assess the case.

If violations are identified, authorities will take action in accordance with the law, the department said.

The department also urged cosmetic surgery providers to strengthen pre-operative assessments, closely monitor patients after surgery and promptly transfer patients to specialist facilities when complications exceed their capacity to treat them. — VNS