At the age of 4, a girl in Hanoi was suddenly diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. Recently, the disease progressed rapidly and severely, she suffered from end-stage heart failure, the only way to survive was a heart transplant.
The patient is a 7-year-old girl. 3 years ago, L. was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and was treated conservatively with specific drugs at the National Children's Hospital.
Recently, the heart failure progressed rapidly and severely, responding poorly to conservative treatment, and the patient was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure.
The dangerous disease makes it difficult for the girl to breathe and she has to stay in bed. Without a heart transplant, the patient's chances of surviving beyond one year are very low.
Luckily, L. was revived in early July thanks to the heart of a brain-dead donor. The organ parameters of the donor and recipient were completely compatible.
Having experience in heart transplants for 9 children, doctors at this hospital predicted the above difficulties and gave an active treatment regimen for the girl.
![]() | ![]() |
After 1 week of heart transplant, the patient's body gradually adapted to the new heart. After 3 weeks of surgery, the child's health recovered very well. The patient was alert, eating, living, running and jumping normally, full of vitality, and eligible to be discharged from the hospital.
The 7-year-old girl became the 10th child to receive a heart transplant at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital. With a bright smile and always "closed eyes", the happy girl wrote a handwritten letter to thank the doctors and hoped to get well soon so she can return to school.
From 2010 to 2022, each year there were 10-11 cases of brain death organ donation in our country. In 2023, there were 16 cases; in the first 6 months of 2024 (up to early June), there were 10 cases. Although the number of brain death organ donation cases has increased, the organ shortage in Vietnam is very serious. It is estimated that every day, 36 Vietnamese people die due to lack of organs for transplant.
A brain-dead person can donate organs to save the lives of 8 people and help cure 100 others through tissue donation (cornea, skin, bone, blood vessels, tendons).
VN (Synthesis)