Vietnam hospital completes first liver transplant from living donor

Thong Nhat Hospital in Vietnam successfully performed its first liver transplant from a living donor with support from the 108 Central Military Hospital.

A 29-year-old man voluntarily donated part of his liver to save his older brother, who was suffering from severe liver disease. The recipient, a 50-year-old man, had liver cancer on top of cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B and C, and also had type 2 diabetes.

Before the transplant, the recipient frequently required hospitalisation for complications of cirrhosis, including fluid buildup and bleeding. Doctors determined a liver transplant was the best option after discovering a 33x50mm tumor invading his liver and a blood clot in a portal vein. The donor underwent thorough medical and legal evaluations to confirm his suitability. The eight-hour surgery involved two teams working simultaneously, one removing the liver portion from the donor, the other removing the diseased liver and preparing the recipient.

Both the donor and recipient are now stable. The donor has already returned home under medical supervision, while the recipient is showing improved liver function and steadily normalising blood tests. Doctors will continue to monitor both patients for potential complications. The hospital director believes this first transplant signals a new capability for Thong Nhat Hospital and supports its goal to become a leading geriatrics facility.

Several hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, including Chợ Rẫy and University of Medicine and Pharmacy, also perform liver transplants.