VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's second successful adult liver transplant was performed at Viet Duc Hospital on Wednesday.

The patient is currently recovering from the 13 hour procedure conducted by Viet Duc's doctors with technical support from Taiwanese health experts.

"The patient recovered relatively quickly after surgery and he is currently in a stable condition," said Nguyen Tien Quyet, the hospital's director.

The patient was named as 44-year-old Nguyen Thanh H from Da Nang City who was suffering from the latter stages of cirrhosis. H was faced with potentially fatal consequences without the transplant, and his 34 years old cousin proved to be a suitable donor.

Doctors took more than 60 per cent of his cousin's right liver lobe to replace H's diseased organ.

Quyet said that adult liver transplants were more complicated and risky than in children because doctors had to remove at least half of the donor's liver lobe for a successful transplant compared to one third with children.

The first successful adult liver transplant was carried out at Viet Duc Hospital in 2008.

* Ministry issues new alert on food safety

The Health Ministry has requested all provinces and cities to strengthen food safety and hygiene activities nation-wide by promoting awareness and inspection programmes during the new year festival.

"Consumer demand increases ten-fold during the new year, especially over the traditional holiday period," said deputy head of the ministry's Viet Nam Food Administration Nguyen Thanh Phong at a press conference in Ha Noi yesterday, Dec 16.

"To ensure food safety and hygiene during the festive season, we will boost awareness activities targeting food producers, traders and consumers," he said.

He also added that six inter-sectoral inspection groups would be set up to supervise food safety at markets in Ha Noi, HCM City and provinces with border gates.

According to the administration, the country has reported 173 food poisoning cases this year, less than the average annual number of 200 over the last decade. Eighteen cases were reported with 323 people infected during the last quarter of 2010, of which four died due to eating puffer fish.

"Food poisoning is showing signs of reduction as compared with the same period in 2009, however 60 per cent of the cases were in domestic outbreaks," said Phong.

"Most poisoning outbreaks related to poor food preservation or natural toxins found in mushrooms, puffer fish and toads," added Phong.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News