Hanoi (VNA) - For the first time in history, Vietnamese doctors have successfullycarried out two bowel transplants from live donors, considered one of the mostdifficult organ transplant techniques.

Withthis success, Vietnam has become the 20th country in the world to performsuch a complex surgery, Director of the Military Medical University Prof. Dr.Lieut. Gen. Do Quyet said at a press briefing on October 31.

Theoperations were performed on October 27-28 by doctors of Hanoi-based MilitaryHospital 103 under the Military Medical University and their colleagues fromJapan’s Tohoku University Hospital.

Thefirst patient, Nguyen Van D., a 42-year-old man, received a healthy bowel fromhis younger brother, 40, while the second patient, Lo Van T., 26, got a bowelfrom his mother, 47.

Bothpatients had suffered from impaired bowel function following surgery years ago.

Aftersurgery, both bowel donors are in stable health conditions. The twotransplanted patients are under intensive care with their survival indicatorsbeing closely monitored by doctors.

Thehospitals sent doctors to learn with Japanese doctors at Tohoku Hospitalin 2018 as well as invited Japanese doctors to come to the hospital to shareexperience and provide consultancy in the field.

Thesuccessful surgery would open up more opportunities for patients who are in needof bowel transplants, Quyet said.

DeputyMinister of National Defence Rear Admiral Pham Hoai Nam praised efforts of thehospital’s medical works for the successful operations and asked the hospitalto gain more achievements, contributing to the development of the medicalsector of Vietnam and to expand medical cooperation with countries withadvanced development in the health sector to get access to and updatemodern medical technology in health check-up and treatment.

InJanuary, Vietnam conducted the world's first limb transplant from a live donor.The operation was carried out by doctors of the Central Military Hospital108 in Hanoi./.