108 Military Central Hospital performs rare second heart transplant

Doctors at 108 Military Central Hospital in Vietnam have successfully performed a rare emergency re-transplantation on a 50-year-old male patient. This marks the first time such a procedure has been conducted in the country.

The patient, suffering from end-stage heart failure, underwent an initial heart transplant from a brain-dead donor on July 25. However, within 24 hours, the transplanted organ experienced severe primary graft dysfunction, losing its ability to contract. Despite intensive treatment and ECMO support, the patient developed multi-organ failure and faced imminent death.

On July 28, only three days after the first surgery, medical experts decided to proceed with a second transplant using a new donor heart. Despite the high risks associated with the patient's critical condition, including pulmonary damage and coagulation disorders, the second surgery was successful. The patient remains under intensive monitoring for potential complications such as infection and bleeding.