Professor D. Masao Hashimoto, an expert from the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) in Tokyo, first came to Vietnam in 2015 through the Vietnam Respiratory Society. Bringing not only extensive medical expertise but also deep dedication, he has devoted a decade to the country.

At the Respiratory Center at Bach Mai Hospital, Prof Hashimoto has worked alongside Associate Prof Vu Van Giap, Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital, Associate Prof Phan Thu Phuong, Director of the Respiratory Center, and other doctors to examine and diagnose complex cases.

Most recently, on August 10, he guided and assisted in performing an endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (ebus-tblb) using a radial probe under enhanced fluoroscopy. 

This is a minimally invasive diagnostic method, combining a radial ultrasound probe inserted through the working channel of the bronchoscope to accurately locate peripheral lung lesions that are not visible via conventional bronchoscopy.

At the same time, enhanced fluoroscopy was used to control the path and position of the biopsy instruments. With this dual support, doctors can accurately approach the lesion and collect tissue samples through transbronchial biopsy (tblb) using a forceps, brush, or transbronchial needle.

This technique offers a high diagnostic rate, minimizes complications such as bleeding or pneumothorax, and provides reliable histopathological samples to determine the nature of the lesion (cancer, inflammation, tuberculosis, fungus...) and an optimal treatment plan, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or targeted therapy. 

These valuable practice sessions lay the groundwork for the establishment of the Vietnam-Japan Bronchoscopy Center at Bach Mai hospital.

In September 2024, an 11-year-old patient, M.H.N.T from Nu Village, Lao Cai Province, a victim of flash flooding in Typhoon Yagi’s aftermath, was admitted to Bach Mai Hospital’s A9 Emergency Center in critical condition: deep coma and severe hypotension. CT scans revealed traumatic brain injury and diffuse brain edema. The patient was immediately transferred to the Pediatric Center for intensive care.

On September 15, 2024, Associate Prof Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, coordinated with Prof Hashimoto for a direct consultation with doctors and specialists. 

The critical issue was the child’s severe pneumonia caused by water and mud accumulation. After 50 days of intensive treatment, the child was miraculously revived.

Bridging Vietnam-Japan respiratory medicine

One of Professor Hashimoto’s most important contributions during his time in Vietnam is his key role in establishing the Vietnam-Japan bronchoscopy training cooperation project since 2017. With support from the Japanese Ministry of Health and NCGM, the project has enabled more than 80 Vietnamese doctors and nurses to receive bronchoscopy training in Japan. Thanks to the training, the capacity for diagnosing and treating respiratory diseases in Vietnam has improved significantly.

With NCGM’s technical support, the respiratory center at Bach Mai Hospital has become the pioneer in Vietnam to implement advanced techniques such as Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) and interventional bronchoscopy to treat central airway obstruction. 

Techniques once considered “a distant dream” have now become routine procedures, helping save many lives. Amid increasingly complex respiratory diseases, especially the rising incidence of lung cancer, one of the deadliest cancers, bronchoscopy techniques play a key role in early diagnosis and treatment.

Methods such as EBUS-TBLB and EBUS-TBNA, carefully guided by Professor Jashimoto, not only provide high diagnostic accuracy but also reduce the risk of complications for patients.

Associate Prof Vu Van Giap, deputy director of Bach Mai Hospital, said that the image of the dedicated Japanese professor guiding hands-on practice represents the most beautiful symbol of borderless dedication. 

For his outstanding contributions to Vietnam’s healthcare sector, Masao Hashimoto was awarded the honorary professor title by Hanoi Medical University in 2023.

The Anh