The miracly revival of foreign patient with severe traumatic brain injury stucked in Vietnam during Covid-19 pandemic

27/08/2020 16:58

 

After 4 months of intensive treatment at Viet Duc University Hospital, patient M.J.J, 33 years old, United states of America nationality, had severe traumatic brain injury caused road traffic accident, recovered marvelly and returned to his country, reunited with the family.

 

On April 20th, 2020, Emergency and Outpatient Department of Viet Duc University Hospital received a patient – M.J.J who had been in a traffic accident from the lower level transferred to, with a severe traumatic brain injury scaring glasgow 5 points, right pupil more dilated than the pupil, was intubated to maintain breathing. On the CT scan check, there is an image of the hematoma at the right hemisphere. Patient urgently completed the tests, indicated emergency surgery within the day. Neurosurgery specialists at Viet Duc University Hospital conducted craniotomy, removed hematoma for brain decompression. Dr. Bui Huy Manh, who directly operated emergency surgery for M.J.J patient, said: Acute subdural hematoma often presents symptoms such as headache, vomiting or nausea, stiff neck, increased muscle tone, epilepsy convulsions, coma. If left untreated, it can damage the nervous system and lead to death. Most of the dangerous brain trauma cases are caused by accidents, especially traffic accidents, which, if not handled in time, can affect the patient’s life or cause life-long sequelae.

 

After surgery, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for critical treatment with 38^oC fever, mechanically ventilated , right pupil (2 mm), left pupil (1 mm), positive light reflection, glasgow improved to 7 points, lung was ventilated evenly on both sides, saturated oxygen (SpO2) 100%. Patient has been intensively treated with sedation, mechanical ventilation (mechanical ventilation through tracheostomy), vasopressors, antibiotics according to results of antibiogram from the culture of bronchial fluid: Klabsiella pnenmonise, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginasa) associated with good nutrition. After 22 days of intensive treatment at ICU, the patient has made a good change and the mechanical ventilation was removed and vasopressor cut off,  was stable and released from the ICU to normal ward for treatment.

 

On June 25th, 2020, patient M.J.J was re-examined: incision with good healing, brain CT scan image with skull defects at temporoparietal. The patient was consulted by specialists of neurosurgery and indicated for a second surgery with autologous cranioplasty. After the surgery on June 26th, 2020, patient can have some basic contacts, good vital signs, no paralysis or fever. A week after, the wound has healed well, stopped taking medicines completely and removed suture. The CT scan showed that the brain was stable, the skull bone grafted was in good position, however the ventricle was slightly dilated, but there was no surgical indication …

 

 

Since patient M.J.J has been hospitalized from April 2020 – the time  Covid-19 has affected much in Hanoi and the whole country, the patient does not have any relatives to take care of and cannot communicate, his visa expires on April 26th, 2020, Viet Duc University Hospital sent a notification to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, the US Embassy to contact family members in the US and find maximum measures to support patients. In particular, the International Cooperation Department, in close coordination with the US Embassy, ​​actively assists in foreign affairs, is the bridge between patient’s family and the hospital to provide timely and accurate information between 2 sides. At the same time, with the mission of supporting foreign patients, the International Cooperation Department has helped patient J’s family overcome language barriers to motivate during the treatment of patient J at hospital. Additionally the hospital has also repeatedly conducted consultations under the direction of the hospital director to come up with the best care options.

 

With the active care of medical staff at Viet Duc University Hospital and friends in Vietnam, on August 18th, 2020, J was discharged from hospital to return home. The supported team by Associate Professor Nguyen Duc Chinh – Head of International Cooperation Department, Viet Duc University Hospital and colleagues escorted M.J.J to the airport to assure his stable health condition.

 

On the day  J. is discharged, in the joy of being reunited with his family, tears fell on the face of J. and his American friends. They constantly showed their gratitude toward the doctors at Viet Duc University Hospital for taking care of the patient as thoughtful as his relatives.

“…Thank you so much for this email. My family and I are most thankful for your kind words.   This has been a heartbreaking situation not only for our family but for other parties involved. The language barrier and the time difference and Covid 19 are just a few challenges we have faced but my family and I sincerely appreciate everything that your hospital staff including Doctors, Surgeons, clinical Staff and Administrative Staff have done for Justin.   Your Staff saved my Son Justin life and my gratitude is immeasurable.… ”. ( From one of the grateful letters of Ms. Janette Solano Quintana – mother of patient M.J.J, sent from the U.S on August 3rd, 2020). As soon as the patient arrived at the airport in Sanfrancisco – USA, the family of patient were very happy to inform the hospital that the patient was in a stable condition, will soon start his rehabilitation in home land and once again send their sincere thanks to Viet Duc University Hospital. These grateful words are a meaningful gift to the doctors at Viet Duc University Hospital after 4 months of actively treating M.J.J.

 

With a sense of responsibility and a high level of expertise, doctors at Viet Duc University Hospital have saved lives of foreign patients like Mr.J.J, supported unconditionally during their hospitalization. Especially, during the time Covid-19 pandemic was and continues, the hospital has created more belief in the quality of treatment, examination for foreign patients living and working in Vietnam. Prof. Tran Binh Giang – Director of Viet Duc University Hospital said: The hospital is resolving many ” bottlenecks ” in order to develop into an international-class medical facility, attracting overseas Vietnamese returning home for treatment or foreign patients choose to stay in Vietnam.