Previously, the patient sought medical attention at several facilities with suspected tuberculosis or lung tumors. However, tests and biopsies failed to provide a definitive diagnosis.

Upon arrival at Vinmec Smart City General Hospital, the patient underwent a multi-specialty consultation. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest revealed abnormalities related to large blood vessels within the chest cavity.

"The patient had a very large vascular pseudoaneurysm in his chest, with a risk of rupture that could occur at any time. If it ruptured, the likelihood of death was almost certain," stated Dr. Dang Quang Huy, Director of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Center at Vinmec Smart City General Hospital.

Dr. Dang Quang Huy, Director of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Center, Vinmec Smart City General Hospital. Photo: Vinmec Smart City

According to Dr. Huy, surgery was the only treatment option, but it carried significant risks. The aneurysm could rupture immediately upon sternotomy, leading to massive blood loss and cerebrovascular complications. Medical literature records very few similar cases globally, and no surgical method is considered standard or absolutely safe.

After multiple consultations, the medical team adopted a specialized surgical approach to protect the brain during the operation. This method utilized an extracorporeal circulation system combined with induced deep hypothermia, aiming to minimize risks should the pseudoaneurysm rupture during intervention.

Thanks to meticulous preparation and the selection of an appropriate surgical strategy, the operation was successful. The patient recovered well and returned for a follow-up four months later in stable health.

This was not the first time Dr. Huy faced cases rarely documented in global medical literature during his more than 15-year career. At Vinmec, he and his team have performed numerous complex heart surgeries: from emergency coronary and aortic procedures to endoscopic heart surgeries for adult patients and children as young as two, three years old, operations on newborns weighing 1,7 kg, and elderly patients with multiple underlying conditions.

Despite having handled many challenging cases, Dr. Huy considers those without standard protocols or existing treatment experience to be the greatest challenges in medicine. "The biggest pressure is not the technique, but the decision. In some cases, a single wrong choice means there is no opportunity for correction," Dr. Huy shared.

Dr. Dang Quang Huy and his team performing a complete endoscopic surgical procedure for a child with congenital heart disease. Photo: Vinmec Smart City

Dr. Dang Quang Huy was the top-scoring entrant in the resident physician training program at Hanoi Medical University. Following extensive training both domestically and internationally, he contributed to establishing and developing minimally invasive and endoscopic heart surgery programs—a challenging direction in Vietnam at the time. Endoscopic heart surgery requires modern equipment, a long period of study and research, and a synchronously trained team.

In his new role as Director of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Center at Vinmec Smart City, Dr. Huy focuses on standardizing procedures, training the next generation of staff, and building a sustainable work system. According to the doctor, the foundation of a modern cardiovascular center lies not solely with an individual or a system of machinery, but in the professional competence and coordination of the entire team in managing complex cases.

Based on this, Dr. Huy aims to gradually enable Vinmec Smart City to master advanced, cutting-edge techniques globally that are not yet widely applied in Vietnam, such as hybrid heart surgery and robot-assisted endoscopic heart surgery. This effort seeks to align with the treatment standards of leading cardiovascular centers in the region. He also pursues a cautious, disciplined approach to his profession, rejecting conventional methods. This serves as a driving force, helping him find solutions for heart surgeries that "have no answers."

The Dan

To consult and schedule an examination with Dr. Dang Quang Huy, book an appointment via the Vinmec website here or download the MyVinmec application.