American man survives deep coma after 17 days of intensive care in Vietnam

Bach Mai Hospital on Thursday reported that the man was found unconscious on September 23 by an acquaintance after exercising and spending more than an hour in a sauna, Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper.

The foreigner was rushed to Vinmec Smart City Hospital in critical condition.

His Glasgow Coma Scale score, which measures a patient’s level of consciousness, was just five out of 15.

Both pupils were constricted and responded poorly to light.

He also had a high fever of 39.5 degrees Celsius and low blood pressure.

Doctors promptly intubated him to support his breathing and provided emergency treatment before transferring him to Bach Mai Hospital for further care.

At the hospital’s emergency center, doctors conducted a comprehensive examination and assessment.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and cerebral blood vessels revealed no clear structural abnormalities.

The patient was diagnosed with a coma of unknown cause, accompanied by shock and multiple organ failure.

After a day of monitoring, treatment and multidisciplinary consultations, he was transferred on September 24 to the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit at the hospital’s Neurology Institute for specialized treatment.

The medical team initiated invasive mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement therapy to support kidney function, manage metabolic disturbances, and treat multiple organ failure.

His treatment also included vasopressors to maintain blood pressure, antibiotics, fluid and electrolyte replacement, liver support, correction of blood-clotting disorders, and blood product transfusions when indicated.

Associate Professor Dr. Luong Quoc Chinh, head of the unit, and his team closely monitored the patient’s condition, adjusting treatment protocols and resuscitation measures in response to his clinical progress.

As the patient was a foreign national, the unit coordinated with the hospital and relevant agencies, establishing contact with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and his family to facilitate communication, information sharing and care arrangements.

Following intensive treatment, the patient’s condition gradually improved.

He regained consciousness, became responsive, no longer had a fever and was successfully weaned off mechanical ventilation.

Doctors subsequently removed his endotracheal tube.

He was able to breathe independently on room air, eat and drink by mouth, and regain his mobility.

His kidney function, blood-clotting parameters and infection were also brought under control.

After 17 days of intensive care, the patient was discharged in stable condition.

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi sent a letter of appreciation to Bach Mai Hospital’s leadership and the staff of its Neuro-Intensive Care Unit on Monday, acknowledging the team’s dedicated and professional care, as well as its effective coordination throughout the patient’s treatment.