Doctor Can Tho fights for his life on the fateful flight to Japan

On the evening of April 6, according to information from Can Tho Central General Hospital, it was confirmed that the comrade working at the unit promptly saved the life of a passenger who fainted on an international flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo (Japan) at an altitude of 10,000 meters at dawn on April 5.

At dawn on April 5, 2026, on a Japanese airline flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo, a race with death took place. The main character in this inspiring story is resident doctor Nguyen Hoang Duy Tien (32 years old), working at the Orthopedic Trauma Center, Can Tho Central General Hospital.

The flight from Vietnam to Japan is in its final stages, only about 30 minutes away from landing at Haneda Airport (Tokyo). Meanwhile, a female passenger suddenly fainted shortly after leaving the toilet.

In the midst of anxiety covering the cabin, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Duy Tien did not hesitate to get up and quickly move towards the end of the plane – where the woman was lying on her side on the floor, her face pale and completely unconscious.

Approaching the patient, Dr. Tien quickly carried out preliminary clinical evaluation steps. Through talking with her husband and accompanying son, it is known that the patient has no history of diabetes or hypertension, nor has she ever experienced fainting before. This makes it more difficult to diagnose the cause of a sudden drop in blood pressure in conditions of lack of specialized equipment.

When the flight attendant brought the blood pressure monitor, the reading appeared, which made Dr. Tien worried: 70/40 mmHg. This is an extremely dangerous blood pressure level, directly dangerous to life. At this threshold, the body will suffer from arrhythmias, reducing perfusion to vital organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys. If not intervened in time, patients face the risk of cerebral infarction or myocardial infarction, leaving irreversible complications.

In the medical emergency suitcase (doctor kit) of the flight crew at that time, there were only basic items. Dr. Tien decided to prioritize the option of using an isotonic solution (Normal Saline) to raise blood pressure, a vital decision to keep the patient alive until the plane landed.

Although he is a seasoned orthopedic traumatologist, Dr. Tien admits that setting up an intravenous line (taking the vein) is an operation he often does since he was a resident doctor, which he has not done regularly for a long time.

In the narrow cabin space, the plane was shaking slightly as it began to reduce its altitude to land, along with the anxious eyes of hundreds of passengers and crew, the pressure was heavy on the young doctor's shoulders. "At that time, I was really a little worried because I didn't do this every day, but in an emergency situation, there wasn't much time to procrastinate," Dr. Tien recalled.

Overcoming the vibration and psychological pressure, his operation is surprisingly smooth and precise. The needle goes right into the vein, and the flow of infusion begins to flow evenly into the patient's body. In order to ensure smooth coordination with the flight attendants including Vietnamese and Japanese, Dr. Tien actively communicated completely in professional English, directing the steps to monitor blood pressure closely every 5 minutes.

The miracle happened. About 10 minutes after the infusion, the bottle of fluid is half empty, which is also the time when the woman's vital indicators gradually stabilize. She began to sober up again, her face was more rosy and she was able to chat softly with her relatives.

It is known that Dr. Nguyen Hoang Duy Tien is on his way to Japan to participate in an intensive training course on spine surgery of the AO Spine organization at Toyama University Hospital. Previously, he had a long history of studying in many countries such as Switzerland and Taiwan and had 6 months of studying in Yamagata Prefecture (Japan).

Dr. Tien's timely life-saving action has received warm praise from the Director of the Orthopedic Trauma Center – Dr. CKII Huynh Thong Em with all colleagues at Can Tho Central General Hospital.

Looking back on the experience of "being a doctor at an altitude of 10,000m", Dr. Tien humbly shared that he only felt relieved because everything was stable. For him, it was an unforgettable memory in his medical career, a test of bravery and professional reflexes in the vast air.

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