Vietnamese doctor works overnight to save Thai man in critical condition

(Dan Tri) - Having continuous abdominal pain but not going to the doctor, 4 days later the man discovered a disturbance in consciousness, widespread abdominal infection, and a dangerous perforated gallbladder.

That is the case of Mr. T. (64 years old, Thai nationality), a veterinarian. Before that, he had a stomachache for 4 consecutive days but did not go to the doctor.

At the time of admission, the man was in a state of severe abdominal pain, accompanied by a high fever and signs of impaired consciousness. Doctors noted that the patient had widespread abdominal infection, severe electrolyte disturbances and untreated hyperglycemia. In addition, Mr. T. was also found to have type 2 diabetes.

Through examination, tests and imaging, the doctor discovered that the patient's gallbladder was abnormally distended, had stones, a thick wall and pus around the gallbladder spreading into the abdominal cavity. This is a typical sign of necrotizing cholecystitis with complications of gallbladder perforation, causing peritonitis.

This condition, if not treated promptly, can lead to septic shock and death.

Doctors worked through the night to perform emergency surgery on the patient (Photo: Hospital).

The patient was urgently consulted and determined to be a surgical emergency, requiring early surgical intervention. However, the patient still needed to control other serious accompanying disorders - such as hyperglycemia and severe electrolyte disturbances - to ensure the surgery and patient's safety during and after surgery.

Specialist Doctor Doan Hoang Chau and the Surgery and Anesthesia team at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City urgently performed an emergency surgery that night, lasting from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. the next day.

Because the man's gallbladder was almost completely necrotic and adhered to surrounding organs, it was difficult to separate and stop the bleeding. In addition, because the patient's hemodynamics were unstable, the doctor was forced to reduce the abdominal inflation pressure to a lower level than normal to avoid circulatory impairment.

After nearly 4 hours, the laparoscopic surgery was successfully completed. Post-operatively, the patient continued to receive intensive care with strong antibiotics, closely monitored vital signs, electrolyte adjustment and blood sugar control. After 2 days in the hospital, the patient's condition improved significantly and he was able to be discharged after 5 days of treatment.

The patient recovered well after surgery (Photo: Hospital).

According to medical research in the world , the mortality rate due to biliary peritonitis after gallbladder perforation ranges from 9.5% to 16%, and can even reach 30% in cases of severe necrosis. The above patient belongs to the high-risk group because of late hospitalization and many accompanying disorders.

“In the treatment of necrotizing cholecystitis, correct diagnosis, timely intervention and good control of the general condition are decisive factors. Laparoscopic surgery is the optimal choice if possible, helping patients recover quickly with few complications,” said Dr. Doan Hoang Chau.

Doctors recommend that people need to have regular health check-ups, especially for those in high-risk groups, such as women over 40 years old, overweight or obese people, people with underlying diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a history of dyslipidemia.

When there are signs such as dull or severe pain in the right hypochondrium, fever, nausea or vomiting, mild jaundice (symptoms suggesting gallbladder disease), you need to go to a medical facility early for timely diagnosis and treatment to avoid the disease from progressing.

In addition, it is necessary to maintain a low-fat, high-fiber diet, drink enough water and exercise regularly to help reduce the risk of gallstone formation.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/bac-si-viet-xuyen-dem-cuu-nguoi-dan-ong-thai-lan-nguy-kich-tinh-mang-20250620142148257.htm