Most liver transplants in Vietnam are from living donors, the patient survival rate after 5 years reaches 75%, equivalent to other countries in the world.
Information provided by Associate Professor, PhD. Le Van Thanh, Director of the Institute of Digestive Surgery, Central Military Hospital 108, said at the conference Update on advances in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery organized by Bach Mai Hospital, on April 19.
Liver transplantation is one of the most complex techniques in the gastroenterology and hepatobiliary field, bringing a chance to life for many people with end-stage liver disease. In 2022, more than 37,000 liver transplants will be recorded globally, most of which are from deceased donors. Liver transplantation from living donors is popular in some Asian countries, including Vietnam.
Since the first liver transplant was performed at Hospital 103 in 2004, up to now Vietnam has 9 hospitals performing liver transplants and has transplanted more than 500 cases, from living and brain dead donors. Central Military Hospital 108 alone successfully implemented 220 cases, becoming the largest liver transplant center in the country, and also the unit with the most liver transplants from living donors, with a rate of 97%. The two main groups of liver transplant diseases are hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis.
“The 5-year survival rate of liver transplants at the hospital is 75%, equivalent to other countries in the world,” Associate Professor Thanh said, adding that the liver is the second most commonly transplanted organ after kidney transplant.
According to Associate Professor Thanh, in the context of limited sources of brain-dead donors, liver donation from living donors offers the opportunity to treat end-stage patients, while the donor still has a healthy life.
To develop a liver transplant procedure from a living donor, the hospital requires a comprehensive and thorough assessment of the donor. The goal is to ensure maximum safety and no harm to the donor, in addition to achieving a suitable and functional graft for the recipient.
“The first case was a son who donated to his mother. Now the boy is married, has children, and has a normal, healthy life,” Associate Professor Thanh said. Mr. Thanh explained that 7-10 days after liver donation, the liver donor will be discharged from the hospital. During this time, the enlargement of the liver (after a liver is removed) reaches about 60% and usually after 6-12 months, the liver returns to 100%. The liver is the only organ of the body that can “regenerate” after donation, and the donor’s health returns to normal.
Major General Le Huu Song, Director of the Hospital, said that in the coming years, this place strives to achieve 100-150 liver transplants each year. The cost of a liver transplant in Vietnam is about 1.3 billion VND, much lower than in other countries such as Singapore, about 8 billion VND. Therefore, liver transplantation is very meaningful for patients with liver cancer and end-stage chronic liver failure.