LIFE-SAVING SURGERY FOR 83-YEAR-OLD MAN WITH SEVERE GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING

Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital recently performed a rare and complex surgical procedure that saved the life of an 83-year-old man from Binh Phuoc suffering from severe gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding caused by small intestine hemorrhage.

Seventeen days prior to admission, Mr. N.Q.T. (83 years old, from Binh Phuoc) began passing black, tarry stools and was diagnosed with GI bleeding at a local hospital, where doctors suspected the bleeding originated from the small intestine. After two weeks of treatment without improvement — and with worsening symptoms — the patient was transferred to Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital for advanced care.

Life-Saving Surgery for 83-Year-Old Man with Severe Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Upon evaluation and in-depth diagnostics, the General Surgery Department diagnosed bleeding from the small intestine — a region difficult to access with conventional endoscopy. To locate the source of the bleeding, the team utilized capsule endoscopy, a modern technique that enabled precise identification of the hemorrhagic site and guided the subsequent surgical intervention.

Dr. Nguyen Vu Quang, MMed, Specialist Level I, explained:

“About 50% of GI bleeds are from the upper GI tract, 40% from the lower tract, and only 5 – 10% from the small intestine. Bleeding in the small intestine — particularly from the jejunum to the ileum — often goes undetected because the small bowel is approximately 6.5 meters long and inaccessible by standard endoscopy. In most cases of lower GI bleeding, hemorrhage resolves spontaneously without complications. However, in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, GI bleeding carries a much higher risk of mortality”.

Faced with a critical case, the General Surgery team and Endoscopists collaborated to perform a complex intraoperative procedure. During surgery, they opened the small intestine and inserted an endoscope to directly visualize and address the bleeding site. The affected section of intestine was then resected.

Surgeons, including Dr. Nguyen Vu Quang, MMed, Specialist Level I and Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, MMed, Specialist Level I, identified multiple bleeding points in the ileum, including areas of slow oozing and clotted blood. After three hours of precise, well-coordinated surgery using advanced intraoperative techniques, the bleeding was successfully controlled — saving the patient’s life.

Dr. Quang shared: “This case was complex and dangerous due to the deep location of the bleeding in the small intestine. It’s a prime example of how modern technology and accurate preoperative diagnostics, such as capsule endoscopy, can be successfully combined with surgery to treat life-threatening conditions”.

Following surgery, the patient recovered quickly thanks to the hospital’s Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, which helped reduce both treatment costs and length of hospital stay. Remarkably, Mr. T. was discharged just three days post-surgery in stable condition.

What Is Capsule Endoscopy?

Capsule endoscopy is a safe, modern, and non-invasive diagnostic procedure that enables doctors to fully visualize the small intestine — a region difficult to assess with traditional techniques.

• Modern Technology: A small, pill-sized device equipped with a high-resolution camera captures thousands of images as it moves through the digestive tract.
• Safety: The capsule is single-use, painless, and sterile — minimizing infection risk.
• Simplicity: The patient swallows the capsule after fasting for at least six hours. It naturally moves through the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Images are transmitted to a recorder worn on the patient’s waist. The capsule is excreted naturally within 1 – 3 days.

Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital is a trusted facility for the treatment of complex conditions involving the digestive tract, liver, bile ducts, and pancreas. The hospital specializes in advanced laparoscopic procedures, integrating multiple treatment modalities to promote faster recovery and better outcomes.

Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital accepts both public health insurance and private health insurance.

Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital

No. 88, Street No. 8, Trung Son Residential Area, Binh Hung Commune, Ho Chi Minh City.

Hotline: 18006767

info@nih.com.vn

BRC: No. 0312088602, issued on December 14th, 2012 by the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City. Medical Examination and Treatment License No. 230/BYT-GPHĐ, issued by the Ministry of Health.