Friday, January 6, 2012

198 Pound Tumor

VIETNAMESE MAN'S 198-POUND TUMOR REMOVED

(CNN) -- A Vietnamese man is recovering in the intensive care unit Friday, a day after surgery that completely removed a 198-pound (90-kg) tumor from his right leg, according to the hospital.

The 12-hour procedure, performed at FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, had been considered risky with a 50% success rate because of the amount of blood vessels around the tumor.The tumor was first discovered when the patient, Nguyen Duy Hai, 31, of Da Lat City, was four years old, according to FV Hospital. He had undergone a surgery to remove it in 1997, but in 2001, the tumor grew, and no doctors agreed to operate on him, the hospital said.

The growing tumor had rendered Hai virtually immobile until his surgery.

The latest surgery, which required Hai's torso to be elevated, was performed by a team of surgeons from FV Hospital and led by Dr. McKay McKinnon, a specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery from Chicago.

McKinnon has been credited with removing a 200-pound tumor from a woman in the U.S. state of Michigan in 2000 as well as a 176-pound (80 kilo) tumor from a Romanian woman in 2004.

Doctors expect that Hai's cardiac and pulmonary functions will return to normal over the next 10 days.

The hospital had set up a live video feed of the surgery for other doctors and hospitals to watch.

The cost of the surgery was estimated at $20,000, but the hospital said it will charge 60% of the cost, which will be covered jointly by the Red Cross of Da Lat City and sponsors.

The hospital said it is financing all the traveling costs and accommodation for Dr. McKinnon, who is performing the surgery free of charge. 303-pound tumor removed

Source:http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/06/health/vietnam-tumor/index.htm

PICTURE BUGS: 198 Pound Tumor

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.