While Vietnam is bustling with preparations for the traditional Lunar New Year, the officers and staff of Vietnam’s Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 7 (L2FH7) in Bentiu, South Sudan, remain on high alert, ensuring international medical duties are fulfilled without interruption.
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The operation was conducted at 7:00 p.m. and successfully completed at 8:20 p.m. |
On February 14 (the 27th day of the 12th lunar month), L2FH7 admitted a female South Sudanese patient suffering from epigastric pain and nausea. Following clinical and subclinical examinations, doctors diagnosed the patient with acute appendicitis and ordered emergency surgery to prevent dangerous complications.
Notably, the patient is a young manager at a United Nations organization in the area. Given the condition of the patient, the patient and her family were cautious, contacting relatives and colleagues while consulting with doctors from the Level-1 Hospital in the region and medical experts in the capital of Juba. Initially, the patient wanted to be transferred to a higher-level facility to be closer to her family.
In the spirit of respecting the patient's opinion and strictly adhering to U.N. professional regulations, the L2FH7 medical team, in coordination with the Level-1 Hospital, provided transparent counseling regarding the diagnosis, treatment plan, and local surgical capabilities. The hospital confirmed that the appendectomy was well within its capacity to be handled safely, following professional protocols and ensuring anesthesia, resuscitation, and infection control standards required by the U.N. Mission in South Sudan.
After careful consideration, the patient placed her trust in the Vietnamese medical staff and chose to undergo surgery in Bentiu. The operation was conducted at 7:00 p.m. and successfully completed at 8:20 p.m. The patient showed stable vital signs and was moved to the recovery area.
Amidst harsh climatic conditions, limited infrastructure, and potential security complexities at the front lines, every successful emergency case and surgery is a testament not only to solid expertise, but also to the responsibility, dedication, and courage of the Vietnamese military doctors.
As the traditional Tet approaches, despite the lingering homesickness, the Vietnamese "blue berets" continue their noble mission for peace. This successful surgery has further bolstered the prestige and the professional and humanitarian image of the Vietnam peacekeeping force in the international community.
Translated by Huu Duong