Doctors at Military Hospital 103 perform the first bowel transplant in Việt Nam. — Photo courtesy of the hospital

HÀ NỘI — For the first time in history, doctors in Việt Nam have successfully carried out two bowel transplants from live donors, considered one of the most difficult organ transplant techniques.

With this success, Việt Nam has become the 20th country in the world to perform such a complex surgery, director of the Military Hospital 103 Đỗ Quyết said at a press briefing on Saturday.

The operations were performed on October 27-28 by doctors of Hà Nội-based Military Hospital 103 and their colleagues from Japan’s Tohoku University Hospital.

The first patient, Nguyễn Văn D., a 42-year-old man, received a healthy bowel from his younger brother, 40, while the second patient, Lò Văn T., 26, got a bowel from his mother, 47.

Both patients had suffered from impaired bowel function following surgery years ago.

After surgery, both bowel donors are in stable health conditions. The two transplanted patients are under intensive care with their survival indicators being closely monitored by doctors.

The hospitals sent doctors to learn with Japanese doctors at Tohoku Hospital in 2018 as well as invited Japanese doctors to come to the hospital to share experience and provide consultancy in the field.

The successful surgery would open up more opportunities for patients who are in need of bowel transplants, Doctor Quyết said.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Phạm Hoài Nam praised efforts of the hospital’s medical works for the successful operations and asked the hospital to gain more achievements, contributing to the development of the medical sector of Việt Nam and to expand medical co-operation with countries with advanced development in the health sector to get access to and update modern medical technology in health check-up and treatment.

In January, Việt Nam conducted the world's first limb transplant from a live donor. The operation was carried out by doctors of the Central Military Hospital 108 in Hà Nội. — VNS