Saint Paul General Hospital, a sizable multidisciplinary medical facility in the heart of Hanoi, has successfully performed a newly developed laparoscopic surgical technique for the treatment of common bile duct cysts, on a foreign pediatric patient.

Vietnamese doctors perform surgery. Photos: Saint Paul General Hospital

After a week of surgery, the four-year-old Australian kid recovered quickly and is expected to be discharged from the hospital today [December 5].

The endoscope, which was less than 2 cm wide, would leave no scar at all.

The surgery of bile duct cysts or choledochal cysts has marked an advanced step in Vietnam’s pediatric surgery which meets the international level.

The patient’s dad, Rob Warren said: “We were worried when my child was diagnosed with this illness and sought treatment both at home and abroad, but we received no reassurance. By chance, I came across a website that told me that many of these challenging cases had been well handled by Dr. Tran Ngoc Son at Saint Paul Hospital in Vietnam. We received excellent care, treatment, and services at Saint Paul Hospital from the moment my child arrived.”

He thanked Dr. Son and the hospital for the treatment which “exceeded their expectations.”

Associate Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Son, Deputy Director of Saint Paul General Hospital.

This is one of nearly 300 pediatric patients diagnosed with choledochal cysts who have undergone this surgical technique at the hospital.

Associate Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Son, Deputy Director of Saint Paul General Hospital, said the hospital’s Pediatric Surgery Ward is one of the world’s two centers to conduct single-port endoscopy to treat bile duct cysts without complications. 

The family of the Australian kid who was treated in the hospital.