As one of Vietnam’s vascular intervention specialists capable of performing endovascular procedures for both adults and children, Dr Huynh Huu Danh, Specialist Level I, has earned the affectionate title of the “Body Repairman” through blood vessels.
Recalling a day in mid-September, Dr Huynh Huu Danh, Specialist Level I and an endovascular intervention expert at FV Hospital, vividly remembers the image of a three-year-old girl timidly hiding behind her mother. One of her eyes nervously peeked at the young doctor’s face, while the other remained vacant and unresponsive.
Bearing the radiant name “An Ha,” which symbolizes light and peace, the little girl had been tragically afflicted with a relentless form of cancer since just a few months old. After a brief conversation with her mother, Dr Danh could not help but wonder, “What strength has carried this three-year-old through one major surgery and seven painful rounds of chemotherapy?”
Striving to Bring Hope for Patients
Born healthy in 2021 in Dong Nai, little An Ha was diagnosed with retinoblastoma during a routine eye examination and had to endure multiple painful rounds of chemotherapy. In early 2024, doctors were forced to remove one of her eyes and fit a prosthetic to save her life as the tumour continued to grow. By August, however, a new tumour was discovered in her remaining eye.
“Saving her remaining eye seemed nearly impossible, as removing the eyeball was the only way to prevent the tumour from spreading to her brain. The thought of my young daughter potentially losing her sight before the age of three was unbearable,” her mother recounted through tears.
Yet, despite these challenges, hope continued to shine in An Ha’s sparkling eyes, a testament to her resilient spirit.
The person who brought hope back to her family was Dr Huynh Huu Danh, Specialist Level I.
Upon taking on An Ha’s case, Dr Danh carefully evaluated her condition and proposed an innovative approach with her family: intra-arterial chemotherapy to shrink the tumour and ultimately eradicate it.
“Previously, retinoblastoma was primarily treated with chemotherapy, radiation, laser therapy, or cryotherapy, with surgery as the last resort. At FV Hospital, we have introduced a new technique: intra-arterial chemotherapy. If the treatment is effective, the tumour will shrink, and the child can retain her remaining eye,” explained Dr Danh.
Dr Danh’s words reignited hope for the young mother after three years of tirelessly supporting her child in the search for light. As she learned more about this method, she discovered that while it has been widely used globally for years, very few hospitals in Vietnam have adopted it. Fortunately, FV Hospital not only excels in performing intra-arterial chemotherapy but also integrates it with other approaches to deliver comprehensive, personalized treatment for each patient.
Dr Danh’s treatment plan for An Ha involved administering intra-arterial chemotherapy three to four times on average, with each session spaced one month apart, until MRI imaging or fundus examination confirmed the absence of the tumour. The first intervention was carried out in FV’s Cathlab by a multidisciplinary team comprising an intra-arterial chemotherapy specialist, a paediatric anaesthesiologist, and a paediatrician.
This technique reduced the child’s pain by delivering chemotherapy drugs directly to the target area rather than the entire body. Its minimally invasive nature also shortened recovery time and lowered the risk of complications.
“Two weeks after the procedure, during her follow-up visit, my daughter’s tumour had shrunk by 20–30%. This is a very promising result,” An Ha’s mother shared with joy. Dr Danh encouraged her to stay committed to the treatment regimen to preserve her daughter’s remaining eye and prevent the tumour from spreading to her brain. With tears in her eyes, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to the “kind, gentle, and dedicated doctor” who had worked tirelessly to save the last glimmer of light in her daughter’s vision.
An Ha’s miraculous story may have concluded, but it also marks the start of a new chapter in Dr Huynh Huu Danh’s career at FV Hospital. Here, he continues to dedicate himself to advancing medical care through his passion for intra-arterial chemotherapy and vascular interventions.
Passionate about the work, dedicated to treating patients like family.
While working at the Children’s Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City, Dr Danh balanced learning and working, actively seeking opportunities to exchange knowledge with foreign professors. His efforts brought international experts to Vietnam to guide him, providing invaluable knowledge that became the foundation for his later professional advancements, including the Interventional Imaging Training Course at King Hamad University Hospital, Bahrain in 2019, and the Stroke Disease Treatment course in 2020.
During his tenure at the Children’s Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City, Dr Danh successfully handled hundreds of complex cases requiring exceptional skill and expertise. Building a solid professional foundation, he mastered advanced interventional techniques such as embolization of ruptured arteriovenous malformations in the brain, sclerotherapy for venous malformations, embolization for cancer patients, and acute thrombectomy, all with very low complication rates.
Despite these achievements, the unique cases and diverse conditions of his patients remained on Dr Danh’s mind. While the principles of treatment for adults and children are similar, paediatric cases present distinct challenges: children’s blood vessels are smaller, and more prone to vascular malformations, while adults often face atherosclerosis, and their blood vessels are more tortuous than those of children. To provide personalised treatment, healthcare professionals must continuously refine their skills. Driven by this commitment, Dr Danh devotes significant time to researching and applying new treatment techniques to deliver the best possible care for his patients.
“Humility is part of what makes up medical ethics.”
In mid-July 2024, Dr Danh joined FV Hospital, where, with the support of its leadership and his colleagues, he successfully implemented intra-arterial chemotherapy techniques, bringing new hope to patients.
“I find the work environment very supportive, and my colleagues are both highly skilled and kind-hearted,” Dr Danh shared.
Mr Lam Van Kiet, Cathlab Team Leader at FV Hospital, who works alongside Dr Danh in intervention cases, shared: “There have been many challenging cases. Despite the intense focus and high concentration required, Dr Danh always maintains a friendly and approachable attitude, creating a comfortable atmosphere for the entire team. This ensures everyone works in harmony and achieves the best possible results.”
After eight years of dedication to the medical profession, despite many challenges, Dr Danh has always kept in mind the invaluable lessons on humility by his respected mentor.
“I am fortunate to have learned from a mentor who is one of the leading interventional doctors in the South. Despite his expertise, he always remained humble, dedicated to his patients, and eager to share his knowledge and experience with young doctors. He is my idol, and I always keep his advice to learn and grow in mind,” Dr Danh shared.
With a kind face and a warm voice, Dr Danh leaves a strong first impression. However, it is his humility and unwavering dedication to his patients that leave a lasting impact. While modest about his achievements, he speaks with deep passion when discussing challenging cases or innovative medical techniques that could expand more treatment opportunities for his patients.
