Vietnam's Hospital 115 Performs Third Successful Kidney Transplant for Cà Mau Patient

On 25 July, the 115 People's Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City completed a third kidney transplant for a 57‑year‑old man, N.V.M., originally from Cà Mau. This is the first third‑time kidney transplant performed at the hospital and the second such case in Vietnam.

The patient’s wife donated a kidney via laparoscopic surgery after being cleared as a compatible donor. The operation faced significant challenges: the recipient had high HLA antibodies, extensive arterial calcification, and scar tissue from two previous transplants. Doctors performed four plasma‑exchange sessions and used anti‑thymocyte globulin (ATG) plus strong immunosuppressants to reduce rejection risk. The old graft was removed and the new kidney was implanted in the right pelvic cavity with careful vascular anastomosis, including preparation of an artificial vessel as a backup.

The surgery succeeded, with immediate urine output and improved renal function observed on the first postoperative day, allowing the patient to resume normal eating and activity.