With the support of the Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) Group, Chinese Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (CSTCVS) of the Chinese Medical Association (CMA), the 2019 National Symposium of VATS and Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery, co-organized by West China Hospital of Sichuan University and Sichuan International Medical Exchange and Promotion Association (SCIMEA), was held in Chengdu on November 22.
He Jie
Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Director of Cancer Hospital under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), Director of the National Standardized Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment Quality Control Center, and Director of the National Cancer Center
Prof. Liu Lunxu and Prof. Cheng Nansheng, both vice presidents of West China Hospital delivered speeches at the symposium, which was presided over by their colleagues Prof. Chen Longqi and Che Weiguo. He Jie, Academician of CAS, attended and addressed the symposium.
On the Opening Ceremony, Prof. Liu Lunxu warmly welcomed and thanked the attendees as the Chairman of the symposium. He said that in recent years, sigificant progress has been made in the field of thoracic surgery, which solved some of the key surgical issues of VATS to treat esophageal cancer, lung cancer and other tumors. However, the development of laparoscopic surgery still demands dedicated efforts, which is the mission and responsibility of all medical workers. He hoped that thoracic surgeons across the country would work together to scale new heights on the platform led by the VATS Group of CSTCVS and CMA, so that patients could lead a happy life free from diseases as soon as possible.
On the work meeting of the VATS Group, Prof. Liu Lunxu specified their top priorities for 2020. The committee members of the group gave constructive suggestions on issues such as formulation of standards and guidelines, and multicenter clinical research. He sincerely hoped that the group would unite as one to achieve greater heights in domestic thoracic surgery, and voice more influential opinions internationally. To conclude the meeting, he wished that the group could draw inspiration from the symposium.
Prof. Cheng Nansheng congratulated the convening of the symposium, and extended a warm welcome to the attendees on behalf of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. He mentioned that after more than 20 years of pioneering, down-to-earth and innovative efforts, the hospital has become a national-level center for the diagnosis and treatment of critical and complicated diseases in western China. Besides having admitted and treated nearly 90% of the patients with critical and complicated diseases, the hospital has made significant contributions to personnel training and public welfare. In the "2018 Chinese Hospital Rankings" published by the Hospital Management Institute of Fudan University, West China Hospital ranked among the top three for the tenth consecutive year, and its Department of thoracic surgery ranked third in the country. In recent years, the proportion of minimally invasive surgery in thoracic ones has continued to rise. The proportion of minimally invasive surgery for lung cancer resection in West China Hospital has exceeded 90%, and that of minimally invasive surgery for esophageal cancer has reached 60%, profoundly benefiting the society and patients.
Prof. Cheng Nansheng emphasized that the symposium, supported by the VATS Group of CSTCVS, CMA, aimed to provide surgeons in the country with a platform to share advanced technologies and explore new innovative treatments. With well-known experts in thoracic surgery attending the symposium from across the world to systematically introduce the latest thoracic surgery technology, especially for lung cancer and esophageal cancer, he hoped that everyone will share experience and draw inspiration and seek common progress.
It’s worth mentioning that the symposium also witnessed the release of a book Single-Direction Thoracoscopic Lung Surgery. The new book covers all aspects of thoracoscopy lobectomy and lung cancer treatment, with detailed theoretical know-how and specific technical steps. The book was also attached with real-life surgery videos, featuring the ones conducted by internationally renowned thoracoscopic surgeons. The publication of the book will provide academic and technical assistance to domestic and international thoracic surgical scholars, and promote the development of thoracic surgery in China.
According to the latest data of cancer, the incidence and mortality of chest tumors in China continue to rise, and the number of surgeries for chest diseases has increased. Introduced into China more than 20 years ago, the techniques of VATS and minimally invasive thoracic surgery have matured technology with their safety widely recognized. The rapid development of minimally invasive surgery is also known to all, underlined by the popularity of thoracoscopic surgery, the development of robotic surgery, the practice and research of the concept of rapid recovery, and the emergence of multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment. The national symposium, as an academic activity of the VATS Group of CSTCVS, CMA, comprised five sessions: “Ready Plans in the Chest”, “Being Resourceful”, “Sticking to the Right Path and Making Innovations”, “Extraordinary Lung”, and “Lung Talk”. With nearly 30 well-known domestic experts giving keynote speeches on minimally invasive surgery, the symposium provided a platform for the attendees to discuss the latest progress and cutting-edge technologies of minimally invasive treatment of chest diseases.
