VietNamNet Bridge – Surgeons of Duc Giang General Hospital in Hanoi successfully operated on a male patient with acute appendicitis last weekend, despite his internal organs being in different places than most people.

Surgeons of Duc Giang General Hospital during the complex appendicitis procedure. — VNA/VNS Photo

Doctor Nguyen Son Ha, head of the hospital’s Department of Surgery, who led the surgery team, said this was a very rare case.

The 37-year-old patient, Vu Van H, residing at Co Bi Commune, Gia Lam District was taken to Duc Giang General Hospital for examination last Friday by his family after suffering intense abdominal pain.

After tests, doctors identified appendicitis was the cause of the pain.

Upon seeing ultrasound and X-ray results, doctors were surprised to see H’s heart and stomach was on his right and his liver and appendix on the left, which is not the case for most people.

The 30-minute endoscopy surgery was successful, Ha said, and at present, the patient’s health is stabilising.  

H said he already knew his organs were in a different position, but it didn’t affect him. “Every day, I still eat and work normally like everyone,” he said.

According to doctor Ha, the patient has a relatively rare genetic disorder, which affects about 1/10,000 people, of which about 5-10 per cent of patients have congenital heart defects, and the rest have a completely normal life.

“It doesn’t affect the health of this patient,” Ha said. 

Source: VNS