Two families exchange kidneys to save lives of their girls

PSNews –Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City has successfully performed special kidney transplants for 2 girls.
  • Australian cancer specialist provides free health checkups for Vietnamese people
  • 17 million Vietnamese still stay out health insurance program
  • Buddhist festival promotes healthy lifestyle
  • Health ministry improves administrative reforms to increase public satisfaction
  • 60% of healthy people infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The operations were special as each girl of the two was transplanted a kidney donated by the other family member.

Assoc. Prof Thai Minh Sam, head of the Cho Ray Hospital's Urology Ward said both the girls had been in a critical condition before the transplant. Although their parents were willing to donate kidneys to them, doctors realized the risk of transplant rejection if they had been transplanted kidneys from their family members.

On January 11, two operations on the two kidney donors were conducted from 8am to 11am while two transplant operations on the two girls were started at 2pm the same day.
On January 11, two operations on the two kidney donors were conducted from 8am to 11am while two transplant operations on the two girls were started at 2pm the same day.

The doctors of Cho Ray Hospital then discovered that the body of each of the girls could be well compatible with the kidney of the other family’s donor.

After explained about the issue by the doctors, the two families agreed to swap their donor organs to save their girls.

On January 11, two operations on the two kidney donors were conducted from 8am to 11am while two transplant operations on the two girls were started at 2pm the same day.

The two kidneys functioned normally after only 2 days of operation, and the two patients were returned home after 7 days. After nearly a month, both the patients have recovered and they both have come back to normal life.

The two girls meeting with doctor of the Cho Ray Hospital's Urology Ward.
The two girls meeting with doctor of the Cho Ray Hospital's Urology Ward.

According to the head of Cho Ray Hospital's Urology Ward, such a case was performed for the first time in South Korea in 1991, and many countries then followed.

Thanks to the organ donation swap technology, patients can have more chance to be cured, Assoc. Prof Thai Minh Sam said.

The first kidney transplantation operation was performed successfully in the world in 1954 while doctors in Vietnam conducted the first successful kidney transplant from living donor in 1992.

By Phung Nguyen

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.