The heart from a brain-dead donor at Quang Ninh General Hospital began beating again in the chest of a 23-year-old patient at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of 10/5.

The patient suffered from severe progressive heart failure, requiring continuous vasopressor medication. He was placed on the urgent heart transplant waiting list of the National Coordination Center for Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation. His critical heart failure brought him close to death, and he even experienced cardiac arrest eight days before the transplant, necessitating ECMO to maintain circulation and temporary life support.

An organ donation from a brain-dead patient at Quang Ninh General Hospital offered a chance at life for the young man. After comprehensive consultation and consideration, the team at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City decided to accept the donated heart for transplantation. They proactively prepared for resuscitation and circulatory support.

The donated heart was transported by air from Hai Phong to Ho Chi Minh City in about two hours. Traffic police then facilitated its transfer from Tan Son Nhat Airport to the hospital, covering approximately 10 km in just 9 minutes and 34 seconds.

While the heart was in transit, the patient was prepared in the operating room, awaiting the transplant. In approximately 50 minutes of surgery, the donated heart was successfully transplanted and began beating in the patient's chest.

According to doctors, this was a particularly challenging transplant due to the long distance of organ transport. The extended cold ischemia time could significantly affect the heart's recovery after transplantation.

The team performing the heart transplant for the patient. Photo: Hospital provided

"The success of this transplant is the result of many years of building and developing organ transplant capabilities at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City", said Professor Doctor Nguyen Hoang Dinh, Deputy Director of the hospital and head of the heart transplant team.

This event marks the 10th successful heart transplant performed at the hospital.

Organ transplantation is currently the only measure to sustain the lives of patients with end-stage organ failure. To date, Vietnam's healthcare sector has successfully performed thousands of transplants involving six types of human organs.

From 2010 to the present, the system has recorded nearly 270 brain-dead organ donors. Specifically, in the 2024-2025 period, thanks to effective advocacy teams at hospitals and more open-minded patient relatives, the number of organ donations from brain-dead individuals has almost doubled compared to all previous years combined.

This positive trend has helped Vietnam become a leader in Southeast Asia in terms of organ transplant volume, performing over 1,000 cases annually since 2022.