Medical News: Provincial Level Microsurgery Breakthrough
Thái Bình General Hospital (Hưng Yên) Reconstructs Large Maxillofacial Defects Using Free Flap
Thái Bình General Hospital (Hưng Yên) has marked a significant milestone in high-tech development by successfully mastering the complex technique of microsurgical reconstruction of large maxillofacial defects using a free flap. The hospital has become the second provincial-level institution nationwide to achieve this feat.
Ten-Hour Surgery for Cancer Resection and Reconstruction
The patient, Mr. L.Đ.T (born 1974), was diagnosed with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth, characterized by deep invasion and metastasis to nearby lymph nodes. This condition necessitated a complex major surgery.
Following the transfer of technology from central-level hospitals, the surgical team at Thái Bình General Hospital carried out the entire procedure:
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Wide resection of the floor of the mouth tumor, half of the tongue, and the compromised segment of the jawbone.
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Neck dissection on both sides (submandibular and cervical lymph nodes).
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Performing microsurgical transfer of a free fibula osteocutaneous flap to reconstruct the entire post-cancer surgical defect.
The major operation lasted nearly 10 continuous hours, involving two surgical teams working in parallel: one focusing on tumor eradication, and the other preparing and transplanting the flap. The process of connecting blood vessels, mere millimeters in size, under the operating microscope demanded near-absolute precision and intense focus.
Post-surgery, the patient’s condition stabilized, and the grafted flap showed good blood supply, confirming the success of the microsurgical procedure.
Affirming Provincial Healthcare Capacity
Assessing the outcome and conditions at the local facility, Meritorious Physician Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Quang Bình, Deputy Director of the Central Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology, highly praised the hospital. He noted that Thái Bình General Hospital possesses standardized operating rooms, modern micro-surgical equipment, and well-trained personnel capable of quickly mastering the complex procedure.
According to Dr. Hà Văn Hưng, Head of the Odonto-Stomatology Department, the micro-surgical reconstruction technique offers significant advantages:
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It allows surgeons to confidently perform radical cancer resection and lymph node dissection without concerns about wound closure or leaving large defects.
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It restores the patient’s chewing, swallowing, and speaking functions, and crucially, improves facial aesthetics. This helps patients overcome feelings of self-consciousness and successfully reintegrate into the community.
This success not only represents a significant advancement for Thái Bình General Hospital (Hưng Yên) in mastering high-tech oncology and plastic-microsurgery but also affirms the growing capability of provincial-level healthcare in Vietnam. It is a clear demonstration of professional expertise and dedication, expanding access to advanced treatment for the population in the Northern Delta region at the local level.
