Gastroenterology at Changhai Hospital Shanghai | CMCS

Expert Digestive Medicine at One of China's Premier Military Medical Centers

The Department of Gastroenterology at Changhai Hospital — affiliated with Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University) — is one of China's most distinguished gastroenterology centers, with a national reputation for excellence in the management of acute and chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, gastrointestinal motility disorders, and complex digestive conditions. The department is uniquely positioned as the medical counterpart to Changhai Hospital's world-renowned digestive endoscopy center and pancreatic surgery department, providing seamless integration of medical and interventional management for the full spectrum of pancreatic, biliary, and gastrointestinal diseases.

For international patients with acute severe pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune liver disease, or a complex gastrointestinal condition — Changhai Hospital's gastroenterology department offers an unparalleled combination of clinical expertise, endoscopic integration, and research leadership. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end coordination for international patients throughout their care journey at Changhai Hospital.

About the Department

Changhai Hospital's gastroenterology department is a national key clinical specialty operating dedicated gastroenterology inpatient wards, a comprehensive outpatient gastroenterology clinic, a pancreatitis center, an IBD clinic, a liver disease clinic, a motility laboratory, and works in close collaboration with the digestive endoscopy center, pancreatic surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, and critical care through a fully integrated multidisciplinary team. The department's pancreatitis program is one of China's most experienced, managing hundreds of cases of acute severe pancreatitis annually.

Faculty members publish regularly in leading gastroenterology and pancreatology journals including Gastroenterology, Gut, American Journal of Gastroenterology, Pancreatology, and Journal of Hepatology.

Conditions Treated

Acute Pancreatitis

Changhai Hospital's acute pancreatitis program is one of China's most experienced and research-active, managing the full spectrum from mild to severe and necrotizing pancreatitis:

• Mild Acute Pancreatitis — Fluid resuscitation; analgesia; early oral feeding; identification and treatment of etiology (gallstones, hypertriglyceridemia, alcohol)
• Moderately Severe & Severe Acute Pancreatitis (SAP) — ICU-level care; aggressive fluid resuscitation; early enteral nutrition via nasojejunal tube; prophylactic antibiotics for infected necrosis; organ support (CRRT for AKI, mechanical ventilation for ARDS)
• Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Pancreatitis — Plasmapheresis/plasma exchange for rapid triglyceride reduction; insulin infusion; heparin; fibrates; omega-3 fatty acids for prevention
• Gallstone Pancreatitis — Early ERCP for cholangitis or persistent biliary obstruction; laparoscopic cholecystectomy coordination after recovery
• Necrotizing Pancreatitis — Step-up approach: antibiotics → percutaneous drainage → endoscopic drainage (EUS-LAMS) → direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) → minimally invasive surgery; video-assisted retroperitoneal debridement (VARD); open necrosectomy as last resort
• Walled-Off Necrosis (WON) — EUS-guided drainage with lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS — Hot AXIOS); direct endoscopic necrosectomy; coordination with endoscopy center
• Pancreatic Pseudocyst — EUS-guided drainage; endoscopic transpapillary drainage; percutaneous drainage; spontaneous resolution monitoring
• Post-Pancreatitis Complications — Splenic vein thrombosis; portal hypertension; pancreatic duct disruption; disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome (DPDS)

Chronic Pancreatitis

• Pain Management — Analgesic ladder; pancreatic enzyme supplementation; antioxidants; EUS-guided celiac plexus block; endoscopic therapy (pancreatic duct stone extraction, stricture dilation, stenting); surgical referral for refractory pain
• Pancreatic Duct Stones — ESWL (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy) for large pancreatic duct stones; ERCP stone extraction after ESWL; one of China's most experienced ESWL + ERCP programs for pancreatic stones
• Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency (PEI) — Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT — Creon, Pancreaze); nutritional assessment; fat-soluble vitamin supplementation
• Pancreatogenic Diabetes (Type 3c) — Insulin therapy; hypoglycemia risk management; coordination with endocrinology
• Autoimmune Pancreatitis (AIP) — Type 1 (IgG4-related): corticosteroids; rituximab for relapsing disease; Type 2 AIP: corticosteroids; differentiation from pancreatic cancer
• Hereditary Pancreatitis — PRSS1, SPINK1, CFTR mutation testing; genetic counseling; surveillance for pancreatic cancer; surgical referral for intractable pain

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

• Crohn's Disease — Treat-to-target strategy; anti-TNF therapy (infliximab, adalimumab); ustekinumab; vedolizumab; risankizumab; upadacitinib; therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM); exclusive enteral nutrition; stricture dilation via endoscopy center; surgical coordination
• Ulcerative Colitis — 5-ASA; infliximab; adalimumab; vedolizumab; tofacitinib; upadacitinib; ozanimod; etrasimod; mirikizumab; colectomy coordination for refractory UC
• Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) — For recurrent C. difficile infection; investigational for UC; coordination with endoscopy center
• IBD-Related Complications — Perianal disease; strictures; fistulas; colorectal cancer surveillance; IBD-associated arthropathy

Liver Disease

• Viral Hepatitis — HBV: tenofovir, entecavir, bulevirtide for HDV coinfection; HCV: sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (pan-genotypic DAA — SVR >95%)
• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD/MASLD) — Lifestyle intervention; resmetirom (THR-β agonist) for MASH with fibrosis; semaglutide; lanifibranor; obeticholic acid
• Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) — Prednisolone + azathioprine; mycophenolate mofetil; budesonide for mild AIH; calcineurin inhibitors for refractory AIH
• Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) — UDCA; obeticholic acid; bezafibrate; elafibranor; seladelpar; linerixibat for pruritus
• Liver Cirrhosis Complications — Ascites; SBP prophylaxis; hepatic encephalopathy; variceal bleeding (EVL, TIPS coordination); hepatorenal syndrome (terlipressin)
• Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI) — Causality assessment; drug withdrawal; corticosteroids for immune-mediated DILI

Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders

• Achalasia — POEM (coordination with endoscopy center); pneumatic dilation; botulinum toxin injection; Heller myotomy coordination
• Gastroparesis — Dietary modification; prokinetics; G-POEM (coordination with endoscopy center); gastric electrical stimulation
• Functional Dyspepsia & IBS — Rome IV criteria-based management; low FODMAP diet; rifaximin; linaclotide; gut-directed hypnotherapy
• Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction (Ogilvie's Syndrome) — Neostigmine; colonoscopic decompression; surgical coordination

Biliary Disease

• Choledocholithiasis — ERCP stone extraction (coordination with endoscopy center); laparoscopic common bile duct exploration coordination
• Cholangitis — Antibiotics; urgent ERCP biliary drainage; sepsis management
• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) — UDCA; endoscopic management of dominant strictures (ERCP); cholangiocarcinoma surveillance; liver transplantation coordination
• Biliary Strictures — ERCP stenting; EUS-guided biliary drainage for failed ERCP; coordination with endoscopy center

Pancreatitis Center: A National Leader

Changhai Hospital's pancreatitis center is one of China's most experienced, with a dedicated multidisciplinary team managing hundreds of cases of acute severe pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis annually. The center's unique strength is the seamless integration of gastroenterology, digestive endoscopy, pancreatic surgery, interventional radiology, and critical care — enabling a true step-up approach to necrotizing pancreatitis management that minimizes the need for open surgery and reduces mortality.

Key features of the pancreatitis center include:

• One of China's most experienced ESWL + ERCP programs for chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic duct stones
• EUS-guided drainage and direct endoscopic necrosectomy for walled-off necrosis
• Plasmapheresis for hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis
• Multidisciplinary case conferences for complex pancreatitis
• Active participation in national and international pancreatitis clinical trials

Why International Patients Choose Changhai Gastroenterology

• Pancreatitis Center of Excellence — One of China's most experienced acute and chronic pancreatitis programs; step-up approach to necrotizing pancreatitis
• ESWL + ERCP for Pancreatic Stones — One of China's most experienced programs for chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic duct stones
• Endoscopy Integration — Unique seamless integration with China's premier digestive endoscopy center for EUS-guided drainage, ERCP, and FMT
• Autoimmune Pancreatitis — Expert differentiation from pancreatic cancer; IgG4-related disease management
• IBD Biologic Program — Full range of biologics and small molecules with TDM-guided optimization
• Cost-Effectiveness — World-class gastroenterology care at significantly lower cost than equivalent treatment in Western countries

The CMCS Patient Journey

1. Initial Inquiry — Share your GI diagnosis, imaging (CT, MRI, MRCP), endoscopy reports, laboratory results, and current medications with CMCS.
2. Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
3. Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate gastroenterologist based on your condition — pancreatitis, IBD, liver disease, motility, or biliary disease.
4. MDT Submission — Where appropriate, we facilitate pre-arrival case review by Changhai's gastroenterology-endoscopy-surgery MDT.
5. Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation with minimal waiting time.
6. Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near Changhai Hospital, and Shanghai airport transfers.
7. On-Site Concierge — Bilingual coordinators accompany you throughout hospital visits, managing registration, translation, and communication.
8. Post-Consultation Follow-Up — Test result translation, treatment plan interpretation, and remote follow-up coordination after you return home.

Book a Consultation

If you have acute or chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, a biliary condition, or a complex gastrointestinal problem — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with Changhai Hospital's gastroenterology team in Shanghai.

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