A unusual tumor was removed from the face of a 74-year-old lady from the central province of Ha Tinh.
Despite not being able to afford surgery, Bui Thi Hoi had been coping with the enormous deformity for five years.
It was 12 × 14 cm, half of her face was covered, her skull was damaged, her right eye was ruined, and she had breathing difficulties.
“Eating, drinking, and performing daily tasks were challenging for me,” Hoi said.
“I didn’t have the money for the surgery, but I had it for about five years.”
But after that, I got assistance. The physicians were kind and assisted me as well.
Last Monday, physicians from four hospitals in Hanoi performed a five-hour procedure to remove Hoi’s tumor.
The physicians and surgeons were from the National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology, the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital, the National Institute of Burns, and 103 Military Hospital.
The patient was diagnosed with a fibrous tumor, which is a very uncommon form of tumor, according to Doctor Vu Quang Vinh of the National Institute of Burns. There are only 0.05 to 0.5 percent of all face tumors in the globe that are caused by this condition.
To carry out this operation, we assembled a group of medical professionals from four different institutions. The operation was carried out in a span of five hours, and the tumor was totally removed during the first three hours of the procedure.
“The quantity of blood that was lost throughout the procedure was not a significant amount, and the outcome of the operation was excellent. In one week, the patient was released from the critical care unit where they had been receiving treatment.
Vinh went on to say that the choice to carry out the operation was a difficult one.
There was a great deal of concern among us. A unusual tumor was present in the patient, who was already dealing with a number of underlying health problems. The patient is 74 years old.
“Because it is so uncommon, there haven’t been many procedures that are comparable to this one done in the past, and we had very little expertise with surgeries of this kind. Therefore, it is necessary for the hospitals to reach an agreement and conduct professional teamwork.
“After discussing it, we were aware that there was a potential that the patient might pass away during the operation; yet, there was also a chance that the operation would be successful. Furthermore, we believed that we ought to do it for her so long as there was even a sliver of hope there.
Vinh went on to say that even if the operation had not been carried out, the tumor would have continued to pose a risk to Hoi’s life.
“The medical therapy was a significant obstacle to overcome. The fact that the operation was successful, on the other hand, is a testament to the high standard of medical care in Vietnam as well as the close cooperation that exists between hospitals at the central level, she added.
“Determination, knowledge, and experience on the part of Vietnamese medical professionals were the aspects that contributed to the achievement of success. One other thing that is essential is that we have the courage to think, to act, and to make judgments that are difficult.
We would have remained in the safe zone and would not have been able to develop our skills if we had given in to the pressure that was being applied to us.
When it comes to Hoi, it seems like her life has started again.
In response to the tumor, she said, “I feel much better, relieved, and no longer insecure about the tumor.”
I would want to express my gratitude to the medical professionals and everyone else who assisted me.
Bui Thi Chau, who is Hoi’s sister, is also experiencing joy.
It was an extremely difficult voyage since we had to transport my sisters from one hospital to another. We had to do this many times. “However, the end result is absolutely flawless,” Chau said.
“Everyone, we are so grateful to you all. For her, it’s almost like starting again.
Her vital signs are within normal range, and she will be able to return home in the near future after spending the previous two months in the hospital.
