Pham Tan, 76, came to Hong Ngoc General Hospital experiencing burning pain in his upper abdomen, loss of appetite, and fatigue. An endoscopy and CT scan revealed multiple digestive issues: an ulcer in the gastric antrum, sigmoid colon cancer, and a 10 cm pancreatic cyst.
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CT scan showing three serious conditions affecting Pham Tan. Photo: Provided by the hospital |
The patient's age and complex medical history, including diabetes with kidney complications, coronary artery stenosis, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hepatitis B, presented significant treatment challenges. Doctors held a multidisciplinary consultation to determine the best course of action.
Associate Professor Nguyen Xuan Hung, Head of General Surgery at Hong Ngoc General Hospital - Phuc Truong Minh, and the patient's attending physician, explained that a biopsy confirmed the sigmoid colon mass was cancerous. The large 10 cm pancreatic cyst also required surgical intervention. Due to the patient's age, multiple underlying conditions, and weakened state, the hospital conducted a multidisciplinary consultation. The team agreed to stabilize his cardiovascular and endocrine systems before proceeding with surgery to ensure maximum safety.
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The surgical team operating on Mr. Tan. Photo: Provided by the hospital |
Associate Professor Hung explained the challenge of this case: the lesions were located in two different areas. The upper area included the stomach and the body and tail of the pancreas, while the lower area was the sigmoid colon. A traditional open surgery would have required a long abdominal incision. "Therefore, we opted for a combined approach: laparoscopic surgery to remove the colon cancer and an open incision above the navel to address the pancreatic cyst and examine the stomach lesion," said Associate Professor Hung.
During the surgery, the team used an immediate biopsy method for diagnosis and to ensure complete cancer removal. The antrum biopsy showed benign inflammation, and the colon section showed no remaining cancerous tissue, indicating successful removal of the colon cancer.
In a single procedure, the surgical team performed a sigmoid colon resection to treat the cancer, examined the stomach lesion, and completely removed the 10 cm pancreatic cyst, connecting it to the jejunum (Y-shaped section of the small intestine).
With intensive care and effective pain management, Mr. Tan recovered well, walking after three days and leaving the hospital after 10.
"I feel much better now, both physically and mentally. I used to be tired and had no appetite, but now I'm starting to feel hungry again. I'm very grateful to Associate Professor Hung and Hong Ngoc General Hospital for their dedicated care," Mr. Tan shared on his discharge day.
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Mr. Pham Tan three days post-surgery with Associate Professor Nguyen Xuan Hung. Photo: Provided by the hospital |
According to Associate Professor Hung, multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial in complex cases like Mr. Tan's to develop optimal treatment plans, address all health issues including surgery and management of underlying conditions, and tailor treatment for elderly patients.
With its specialized departments, Hong Ngoc General Hospital has established a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, successfully treating many similar cases.
Kim Anh
Digestive Surgery at Hong Ngoc General Hospital:
: Associate Professor Nguyen Xuan Hung and a team of highly skilled doctors provide direct examination and surgery.
: State-of-the-art operating rooms with advanced equipment imported from Germany, France, and the US.
: Rigorous pre-, intra-, and post-operative pain management protocols minimize discomfort and shorten recovery time.
: Luxurious inpatient facilities with 24/7 nursing care.
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