Upon arrival at the Con Dao Special Zone Military-Civilian Medical Center, doctors observed signs of compartment syndrome and suspected vascular damage in the patient's left leg. This injury threatened limb viability. Transporting the patient from Con Dao to mainland Ho Chi Minh City involves either air travel, taking nearly one hour plus airport procedures, or sea travel, requiring at least 4 hours. Such delays would critically impact the chances of saving the patient's leg.

Fortunately, specialist doctors from leading Ho Chi Minh City hospitals were currently rotating their duties in Con Dao and decided to perform immediate on-site surgery. During the operation, doctors identified and treated significant vascular damage. Following the surgery, blood circulation in the foot resumed, and the patient's condition stabilized.

On 30/12, Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, stated that this was one of several surgical emergencies successfully handled in Con Dao during the end-of-year period. The on-site surgery mitigated the risks associated with transferring the patient by sea, contributing to saving the patient's life and preserving bodily function.

During the same period, the Con Dao Special Zone Military-Civilian Medical Center also admitted another tourist diagnosed with acute gallstone cholecystitis complicated by an umbilical hernia. Doctors performed laparoscopic surgery, and the patient remained stable after the procedure.

According to Thuong, the program that rotates specialist doctors from major Ho Chi Minh City hospitals to Con Dao, launched in September with each rotation lasting one month, ensures timely and safe access to medical services for both residents and tourists.

By Le Phuong