Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery

The Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery of the Affiliated Shuguang Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine was formed in 2022 through the merger of the former Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and the former Department of Biliopancreatic Surgery, with the strong support of the hospital leadership and the unremitting efforts of all hepatobiliary and pancreatic staff, creating a new situation for the all-round development of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery at our hospital.

The former Department of Biliopancreatic Surgery was established in 2015 under the leadership of Director Zhang Xiwen and specializes in using laparoscopy, ERCP endoscopy, choledochoscopy, puncture-based interventions and other minimally invasive methods to relieve patients’ suffering. It took the lead in our hospital in performing single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopic radical resection of liver cancer, laparoscopic spleen-preserving resection of the pancreatic body and tail, laparoscopic radical resection of cancer of the pancreatic body and tail, totally laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, total pancreatectomy, radical resection of pancreatic cancer with portal vein reconstruction, and other minimally invasive and complex procedures, reaching a leading level comparable to that of the rest of the country. It fully leveraged the distinctive strengths of traditional Chinese medicine, which was widely used in the prevention and treatment of acute pancreatitis and in the adjuvant perioperative treatment of benign and malignant hepatobiliary and pancreatic tumors, effectively promoting patients’ rapid recovery. Focusing on difficult and common diseases such as biliary sphincter dysfunction and acute and chronic pancreatitis, it conducted clinical and basic research in traditional Chinese medicine and achieved a series of results. The former Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery was established in 2011 under the leadership of its former academic leader, Director Luo Yunquan, and possessed the technical capability to perform all kinds of complex surgery in the field of hepatobiliary surgery. These included various hepatic resections for liver cancer, devascularization and shunt procedures for portal hypertension due to cirrhosis, resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and complex biliary procedures for various types of bile duct stones, laparoscopic cholecystectomy and fenestration of liver cysts, bile duct stone extraction using a fiber choledochoscope, and surgery for splenic diseases. Comprehensive surgical treatment of liver cancer, surgical treatment of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones, surgical treatment of pancreatic tumors, and resection of high bile duct cancer were at a leading level in the country in some respects. Interventional treatment of liver cancer and minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation treatment of small liver cancer were also routinely performed.

Under the leadership of Department Director Zhang Xiwen and the two deputy department directors, Zhang Haiyang and Li Fu, the merged Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery has operated smoothly and harmoniously. Medical and nursing staff have learned from one another’s strengths and worked together, and all types of technology have been widely implemented. The entire department presents a completely new spirit, comprehensively raising its standards of medical care, research, teaching and culture. At present, the department has more than 50 beds in actual operation and 14 clinical physicians, including 2 chief physicians, 4 deputy chief physicians, 5 attending physicians and 3 resident physicians, all with master’s degrees or higher. Deputy Director Zhang Haiyang focuses on minimally invasive surgery and comprehensive treatment of hepatobiliary diseases, as well as gene therapy and immunotherapy for hepatobiliary malignancies. Deputy Director Li Fu has long performed surgery and comprehensive treatment for various common and difficult diseases, including benign and malignant biliopancreatic tumors, intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct stones, acute pancreatitis, acute cholangitis and acute cholecystitis.

The Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery has now established mature routine practice of totally laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, laparoscopic spleen-preserving resection of the pancreatic body and tail, laparoscopic resection of pancreatic body and tail tumors, total pancreatectomy, radical resection of pancreatic cancer with portal vein reconstruction, totally laparoscopic excision of choledochal cysts-biliary reconstruction, laparoscopic ultrasound-guided microwave ablation of liver tumors, water-jet resection of malignant liver tumors, devascularization and shunt procedures for portal hypertension due to cirrhosis, resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and complex biliary procedures for various types of bile duct stones, single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy, hepatic artery embolization chemotherapy by transradial arterial catheterization, absolute ethanol injection and cryotherapy for liver cancer, and other procedures. It adheres to the use of multiple minimally invasive techniques in sequence and as an integrated approach to treat various benign and malignant hepatobiliary and pancreatic tumors, biliary stones and bile duct strictures, making the department’s distinctive feature the exploration of different optimal combinations of endoscopy, laparoscopy and laparotomy.

While improving the level of clinical care, Director Zhang Xiwen has emphasized strengthening international cooperation, building academic platforms, conducting free medical consultations and actively supporting the minimally invasive technical capabilities of fellow institutions. In September 2017, the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Multidisciplinary Youth Forum was held with great ceremony. In 2022 and 2023, the 1st and 2nd Shuguang Youth ERCP Academic Seminars were successfully held in succession. Building on the teaching and question-solving of renowned experts, the seminars developed new approaches, strengthened internal and external exchange and cooperation, highlighted the characteristics of multidisciplinary collaboration and created a platform for young physicians to display their talents.

The Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery has simultaneously developed its in-department research and teaching. Two physicians in the department received the title of “Most Popular Teaching Mentor” at Shuguang Hospital, and nearly 40 standardized resident trainees have been trained and taught. The department received support for 1 Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Xinglin Young Scholar, 1 National Natural Science Foundation of China Young Scientists Fund, 2 Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau youth projects and 4 Shanghai Municipal Education Commission projects. It has published more than 60 papers in domestic and international core medical journals, including more than 20 SCI papers. It has obtained 5 items, including utility model patents and software copyrights.