LIFE-SAVING SURGERY FOR ABDOMINAL HEMORRHAGE AND MULTIPLE TRAUMAS FOLLOWING A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

Doctors at Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital recently saved the life of a 48-year-old man who was in critical condition after a severe traffic accident involving multiple traumatic injuries.

Life-Saving Surgery for Abdominal Hemorrhage and Multiple Traumas Following a Traffic Accident

Mr. N.V.T. (48 years old, from Ba Ria – Vung Tau) sustained life-threatening injuries in a head-on collision between his motorcycle and a three-wheeled cargo vehicle. After receiving initial first aid at a local hospital, he was transferred to Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital for further treatment.

Upon arrival — over five hours post-accident — he was in critical condition, presenting with multiple chest injuries, massive intra-abdominal bleeding, and bilateral femoral fractures. He showed clear signs of hemorrhagic shock such as pale skin and mucosa, rapid pulse, and low blood pressure.

Recognizing this as a case of severe blunt abdominal trauma combined with multiple fractures, doctors immediately initiated emergency resuscitation and discussed urgent surgical intervention with the patient’s family.

At the Emergency Department, the medical team performed aggressive resuscitation, blood transfusion, and fluid replacement, while ordering rapid diagnostic imaging. Within one hour, the patient was transferred to the operating room following a multidisciplinary consultation involving Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, and Orthopedics & Traumatology specialists.

Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, MMed, Specialist Level I, who received the patient, shared:

“In cases of polytrauma, internal abdominal bleeding is often the leading cause of mortality. If not addressed promptly, it can result in hemorrhagic shock and death. In Mr. T.’s case, the bleeding was severe and life-threatening”.

A surgical team led by Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, MMed, Specialist Level I and Dr. Nguyen Vu Quang, MMed, Specialist Level I from the General Surgery Department performed the emergency laparotomy. Intraoperatively, the team encountered a distended abdomen filled with 2,400 mL of fresh blood, multiple active bleeding points from mesenteric vessels, and a completely transected and severely crushed small intestine.

Surgeons controlled the bleeding, performed intraoperative resuscitation, irrigated the abdominal cavity, and resected approximately 30 cm of necrotic small bowel. Both ends were brought out as a temporary stoma.

Surgeons controlled the bleeding, performed intraoperative resuscitation, irrigated the abdominal cavity, and resected approximately 30 cm of necrotic small bowel. Both ends were brought out as a temporary stoma.

The two-hour surgery was successfully completed. Postoperatively, the patient was monitored closely, remained alert, tolerated soft foods, and showed no fever or abdominal pain. The surgical wound was dry, and bowel function returned to normal.

Seven days later, with stabilized vital signs, Mr. T. underwent a second surgery to repair a distal femoral fracture and a complex midshaft femur fracture.

Thanks to timely intervention and two successful surgeries, Mr. T. made a steady recovery and was discharged in good health, ready to return to normal life. Doctors noted that a delay of just two hours could have resulted in death due to hemorrhagic shock.

The successful outcome was the result of seamless coordination between the Emergency Department, General Surgery, and Orthopedics & Traumatology teams. The swift decision-making and collaborative expertise allowed Mr. T. to survive a critical emergency — a testament to the hospital’s capabilities in managing complex trauma cases involving multiple specialties.

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.