In recent years, Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi has seen a surge in the number of European patients seeking treatment for prostate enlargement through embolization. Despite having no foreign visitors before 2021, the hospital now treats more than 10 European patients annually. Patients from developed medical systems such as Switzerland, England, Germany, Australia, and Canada have come to Vietnam for its affordability and expertise.
One of the reasons for this is the lower cost of healthcare compared to their home countries. Additionally, many overseas Vietnamese return to Vietnam for medical treatment to have their relatives take care of them and avoid language barriers. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hien, the Director of the Center for Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology at Tam Anh General Hospital, was the first in Vietnam to apply embolization technique in 2014 and has successfully treated many cases since then.
Embolization is a minimally invasive intervention method that effectively treats various conditions including prostate enlargement. The procedure involves blocking the blood vessels that feed the tumor leading to its shrinkage and reduction in size. Patients who undergo embolization do not require anesthesia, do not lose blood and typically stay in the hospital for 1-2 days. The method is as effective as surgery in reducing symptoms, preserving physiology and improving quality of life for patients.
Successful outcomes have been seen with patients like Mr. Lukas Brandt from Switzerland and Mr. Baltasar Meyer from Germany following embolization treatment at Tam Anh General Hospital. The hospital’s expertise in handling prostate artery embolization cases has attracted attention from other countries with doctors from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines studying and discussing the technique with Associate Professor Hien and his colleagues.
Vietnam is one of the leading countries in Asia for deploying embolization techniques with China being second only to it
