Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery

The Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery is an integral part of both the National Clinical Key Specialty and the Guangdong Provincial Clinical Key Specialty. The department is distinguished by its expertise in minimally invasive surgical treatment for gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and hernias using laparoscopic and Da Vinci robotic techniques. Guided by the development philosophy of "building a research-oriented department where clinical practice and scientific research advance hand-in-hand," the department serves as the chair unit for several significant academic organizations, including the Colorectal Tumor Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, the Colorectal Surgery Branch of the Guangdong Medical Doctor Association, the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Branch of the Guangdong Medical Doctor Association, and the Colorectal & Anal Surgery Management Branch of the Guangdong Medical Industry Association. It is also a designated site for doctoral degree training and a postdoctoral research station at Sun Yat-sen University, enjoying extensive academic influence both domestically and internationally. The department's current team comprises 4 Chief Physicians, 6 Associate Chief Physicians, 7 Attending Physicians, and 5 Resident Physicians. It operates 67 open beds, admits over 3,500 inpatients annually, and performs nearly 2,200 surgeries per year. Over 80% of these surgeries are classified as Grade 3-4 procedures, and the minimally invasive surgery rate approaches 90%. The department is led by Director Professor Wu Xianrui.

Featured Medical Technology

Clinically, the department is committed to the standardized and individualized precision treatment of complex gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, IBD, and hernias. It is equipped with a Da Vinci robotic surgical platform and 3D/4K laparoscopic surgical platforms. The department was among the early adopters in China to perform laparoscopic radical surgeries for gastrointestinal tumors based on the theories of "membrane anatomy" and "submicrosurgery," and it spearheaded the establishment of the "South China Membrane Anatomy Surgery Alliance." In the field of colorectal surgery, the department routinely performs Da Vinci robotic and laparoscopic ultra-low rectal cancer surgeries with anal and functional preservation, lateral lymph node dissection with pelvic autonomic nerve preservation, natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) for colorectal cancer, laparoscopic colorectal cancer resections with combined organ resection, and laparoscopic total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, among others. In gastric surgery, the department routinely performs various types of Da Vinci robotic and laparoscopic radical gastrectomies with intracorporeal reconstruction, combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic radical resection for esophagogastric junction cancer, gastric cancer resection combined with distal pancreatectomy-splenectomy, D3 extended radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, and laparoscopic function-preserving proximal gastrectomy, representing highly complex procedures that are technologically leading both domestically and internationally.

Scientific Research Results

Over the past five years, the department has participated in the formulation of 12 national guidelines and consensuses, served as chief editor/translator for 6 monographs, undertaken more than 10 National Natural Science Foundation projects, published over 50 SCI-indexed papers, and led multiple international multicenter clinical research projects. The department annually hosts the international academic conference "Lingnan Summit Forum on Gastrointestinal Tumors," which has become a signature event. It also regularly organizes the "Boji Advanced Course on Gastrointestinal Tumors" and the "Yixian Advanced Course on Inflammatory Bowel Disease." The department maintains strong exchange and cooperative relationships with gastrointestinal surgery departments at several medical institutions in Japan, Europe, and the United States. With a core development philosophy focused on cultivating research-oriented talent in gastrointestinal surgery, the department not only undertakes teaching responsibilities for undergraduates, eight-year program students, and international students at Sun Yat-sen University but is also responsible for the standardized clinical training of resident physicians, master's and doctoral candidates, and visiting physicians. It has cultivated a large number of outstanding professionals in the field of gastrointestinal surgery for the nation.