>>US experts to operate 80 kilo tumor
Vietnamese and US surgeons will operate on Nguyen Duy Hai of Dalat at a Ho Chi Minh City Tumor Hospital next month.
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| Dr Bui Chi Viet is examining Hai\'s giant tumor at his house in Da Lat last June. |
Dr Le Hoang Minh, director of the Tumor Hospital, said Prof McKay McKinnon, a plastic surgeon, would lead the team to operate on Nguyen Duy Hai 31 on November 18.
The surgery is expected to last 10-12 hours.
Leading local experts in tumors, hematology, anesthesiology, cardiology, and other specialties met at the Tumour Hospital Tuesday to decide whether or not they should operate on Hai.
Dr Diep Bao Tuan of the Tumor Hospital said in June 2010 Hai’s tumor had weighed 80 kg and measured 101cm in length.
But it had grown so fast that it was now 120cm and 90 kg.
Dr Bui Chi Viet, head of the hospital’s surgical department, said: “We need one more discussion with the US experts before the surgery since giant tumors are very complicated and rare and quite difficult to remove.
“Hai could lose five to six liters of blood and have respiratory problems during the operation.”
Hematology and cardiology experts expressed concern that he could suffer from blood coagulation during the operation.
Dr Huynh Nghia of the HCMC Blood Transfusion and Hematology Center said his hospital was willing to provide the blood needed for the surgery but was concerned about what would happen in case of coagulation.
Dr Huynh Anh Khoi, an anesthesiologist, said an electric heater should be used to prevent coagulation.
Dr Le Hoang Minh was optimistic the surgery would be a success with help from the US experts who are scheduled to arrive two days before it.
The doctors said Hai suffers from a rare genetic disease that causes nerve tumors, von Reckling hausen, and this affects one in 3500 people worldwide.