Upon arrival at Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Anh Minh was in severe respiratory distress. Associate Professor, Doctor Vu Huu Vinh, Director of the Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Center, confirmed a hemorrhagic tumor within his right main bronchus. This led to blood flooding his chest cavity and nearly completely filling his right lung. Previously, Anh Minh had sought care at another medical facility where a lung tumor was identified, compressing the superior vena cava. An initial biopsy had indicated a neuroendocrine tumor.

The surgical team performed one-lung selective ventilation. This technique prevented blood from the damaged lung from spilling into the healthy lung, creating a favorable space for the lobectomy and preventing oxygen deprivation during the operation.

During the 6-hour procedure, doctors removed the tumor-containing upper right lung lobe, performed a lymph node dissection, and cleared blood clots that had completely blocked the right main bronchus. The team then reconstructed the right main bronchus, widened the intermediate bronchus, and restored the two remaining right lung lobes (middle and lower), re-establishing the airway.

Associate Professor Vinh examines Anh Minh after the surgery. *Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital*

Within 24 hours post-surgery, Anh Minh was breathing easily, his hoarseness had resolved, and his respiratory and circulatory indicators gradually stabilized. He was deemed healthy enough to proceed with adjuvant treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Pathological analysis of the removed tumor revealed it to be adenosquamous carcinoma, a finding that differed from the initial biopsy results.

Associate Professor Vinh advised the public against overlooking unusual body signs such as a persistent cough, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, or unexplained weight loss. These symptoms can indicate early stages of serious respiratory and digestive conditions. Early tumor detection facilitates appropriate biopsy methods and organ-preserving treatment, leading to more optimal costs compared to managing late-stage disease.

Bao Anh

*The patient's name has been changed.