Nghe An doctor 'crosses the border' twice to save critically injured accident patient

(Baonghean.vn) - Today (September 20), after 2 weeks of treatment by doctors and nurses from Nghe An General Hospital (Vietnam) and Xieng Khouang General Hospital (Laos), patient Hoang Dinh Lanh (28 years old, residing in Gio Linh district, Quang Tri province) who had a traffic accident and fell into a ravine in Laos was saved.

At 8:00 a.m. on August 8, Dr. Nguyen Danh Linh, Director of Nghe An General Hospital, suddenly received a phone call with the international area code 0085. On the other end of the line was Dr. Bun Phong, Deputy Director of Xieng Khouang Hospital (Laos): “A Vietnamese patient, working in Laos, had a traffic accident, is in critical condition, with severe multiple injuries. Xieng Khouang Hospital has treated the ruptured liver injury. However, the patient still needs to be on a ventilator continuously, with no signs of recovery after surgery. We request urgent support from Nghe An General Hospital to save the patient's life.”

After a quick discussion about the patient's initial injury, the team of two doctors: Le Anh Xuan - Head of the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Nguyen Van Thuy - Deputy Head of the Department of Intensive Care and Anti-Poisoning, along with the emergency transport team, received orders from the Board of Directors to immediately go to Xieng Khouang.

The ambulance equipped with a ventilator, electric syringe, oxygen tank, vasopressor, cardiac stimulant... was on its way just 30 minutes after being dispatched. Traveling more than 500 km, the ambulance sped on the route from Vinh City to Phonsavan (capital of Xieng Khouang, Laos).

After just over 5 hours of full speed, the working group arrived at Nam Can border gate (Ky Son). The group left at the last minute, not having time to bring their entry and exit passports. Fortunately, when the working group explained the purpose of the special trip, they received sympathy and were immediately allowed to enter and exit by the customs of Vietnam and Laos.

Continuing the journey at the fastest speed possible, at nearly 6 pm, Nghe An doctors and nurses arrived in Phonsavan. Arriving straight at Xieng Khouang General Hospital, Dr. Xuan immediately performed a pleural drainage procedure, removing a lot of blood and fluid, as well as monitoring the results of the liver rupture surgery and screening for other injuries. At the same time, Dr. Thuy actively resuscitated the patient.

Patient Hoang Dinh Lanh (28 years old, residing in Gio Linh, Quang Tri) had a traffic accident and fell into a ravine in Laos and was saved. Photo: Hoang Yen

Staying with Xieng Khouang Hospital to closely monitor the patient for another day, the doctor from Nghe An General Hospital commented: Although the patient has shown positive signs and progress, he still cannot be transferred back to Vietnam immediately. The patient needs more time to recover his respiratory function and get through the dangerous stage. The plan is for Xieng Khouang Hospital to continue resuscitating the patient, strictly following the protocol set out by Nghe An General Hospital.

Four days later, on August 12, when the patient's condition was deemed more stable, Nghe An General Hospital decided to send a second team led by Dr. Le Anh Tuan from the Department of Surgical Resuscitation to pick up the patient and bring him back to Vietnam to provide care and treatment.

The long and difficult journey, the patient still had to be on a ventilator was a huge challenge for the emergency team. The two hospitals discussed and made a decision: to transfer the patient after carefully preparing the machines, equipment, and medicine; and Dr. Tuan was able to adjust the patient's respiratory function to a stable level. On the afternoon of August 14, the second "overseas trip" within just 1 week of the Nghe An doctor to pick up the patient safely returned to Vietnam.

After 5 days of intensive care at Nghe An General Hospital, on September 20, the patient was weaned off the ventilator, had the endotracheal tube removed, and was conscious.

Although still weak, with all gratitude, the patient shared: “In times of trouble, I clearly feel the value of warm human affection. Lying in the deep abyss after the car flipped over, before falling into a coma, I was still aware that I was carried on the backs of Lao soldiers, over 2 hills to be taken to the emergency room. I survived thanks to the sense of responsibility and love for patients of the doctors and nurses of 2 hospitals Nghe An and Xieng Khouang.

When I was awake and unconscious in the hospital bed, I could still hear the voices of the doctors from Nghe An. I knew they were discussing how to save me at all costs. The desire to return to my homeland, to Vietnam, made me happy and touched when I saw doctors from my hometown going all the way to Laos to save me. And yes, today I am alive. I saw my mother waiting for me outside the glass window. I am extremely grateful to those who did not hesitate to try their best to save me from this critical moment at all costs."

Hoang Yen