During his trip with his wife, Janusz experienced excruciating chest pain radiating to his back and abdomen. He was first diagnosed at an international hospital with Stanford type B aortic dissection and immediately transferred to Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi.

Advanced CT imaging revealed not only the dissection but also a massive abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 9cm in diameter, with clear signs of rupture and retroperitoneal hematoma.

Dr. Ngo Gia Khanh, Head of the Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at Bach Mai Hospital, emphasized the severity of the condition. A complete rupture would have caused immediate death. Emergency surgery was the only option.

The surgery was fraught with challenges - risk of uncontrollable bleeding, damage to vital arteries supplying the kidneys and intestines, and potential multi-organ failure. A hospital-wide emergency response was initiated, assembling top specialists in anesthesia, hematology, and cardiology, with ample blood supply prepared.

Inside the operating room, the aneurysm burst, flooding the abdominal cavity. The surgical team swiftly controlled the bleeding, preserved key arterial branches, and replaced the damaged aorta with a synthetic graft, while the anesthesiology team maintained stable blood pressure and administered timely transfusions.

Amazingly, Janusz was extubated and off the ventilator just one day post-surgery and moved to a regular hospital room the next. Overwhelmed with emotion, he said, “It feels like being born again. Vietnamese doctors are amazing.”

This high-risk, high-stakes operation stands as a testament to Vietnam’s medical excellence, affirming Bach Mai Hospital’s international capabilities and offering hope to even the most critical patients.

Phuong Thuy