Doctor Mai Hong Bang, Director of Military Central Hospital 108, checks the motor function of the patient after the transplant. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam has successfully conducted the world's firstlimb transplant from a live donor, Central Military Hospital 108 announced on February24.
Doctors at the Central Military Hospital 108 performed the operation, openingup new opportunities for treating patients with damaged limbs, said doctor Mai HongBang, Director of the hospital.
The surgery was conducted on January 21 this year.
The patient receiving the limb was Pham Van Vuong, 31, from Thanh Tri districtin Hanoi.
Vuong suffered an accident at work in 2016. His left hand and about one thirdof his arm were irreparably damaged and doctors had to amputate it.
At the beginning of this year, the Central Military Hospital 108 receivedanother serious case.
The victim also suffered a work accident that damaged his upper left arm, nearthe armpit.
After three weeks of treatment, doctors were unable to save the patient’s armand decided to amputate it. However, the patient’s left hand was still intactand could be transplanted.
The victim, who remains anonymous, and his family had agreed to donate the handto Vuong as a humane gesture.
Since Vuong’s hand is already undergoing multiple infections and necrosis, thetransplanted body part might also face infections, but the doctors said thatthey have taken all considerations and decided to go ahead with the operation.
The surgery, which took eight hours, was conducted by professor Nguyen TheHoang, deputy director of the hospital, and his colleagues.
Now, more than a month after the operation, Vuong is able to use his left handto hold things, such as a table tennis ball.
Vuong still needs to undergo more physical therapy sessions to improve hisrange of movement.
Professor Hoang expects that after six months to a year of therapy, the patientwill have made a full recovery.
Vuong said that he fell into a deep state of depression when he lost his lefthand and only recovered thanks to the support of his family.
He extended his gratitude to the doctors and especially the donor who helpedhim return to a normal life.
The hospital said that since 1998, about 89 limb transplants – a highlysophisticated microvascular surgery technique – have been performed worldwide.All were from brain dead donors, however.
In Southeast Asia, no limb transplants from live donors have been performedbefore./.
VNA
