Hepatobiliary Surgery at Ruijin Hospital Shanghai | CMCS

Expert Liver, Bile Duct & Gallbladder Surgery in Shanghai

The Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery at Ruijin Hospital — affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine — is one of China's leading centers for the surgical management of liver, bile duct, and gallbladder diseases. With expertise spanning liver cancer resection, living donor and deceased donor liver transplantation, minimally invasive hepatobiliary surgery, and complex biliary reconstruction, the department offers comprehensive surgical care for patients with conditions ranging from primary liver tumors and metastatic disease to benign biliary conditions and end-stage liver disease requiring transplantation.

For international patients seeking expert hepatobiliary surgical care in Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital's department offers a combination of surgical excellence, advanced minimally invasive capability, and a fully integrated liver disease program that is among the finest in China. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end coordination for international patients throughout their surgical journey.

About the Department

Ruijin Hospital's hepatobiliary surgery department is a national key clinical specialty performing hundreds of major hepatobiliary procedures annually. The department operates dedicated hepatobiliary surgical wards, a liver transplantation unit, minimally invasive and robotic surgical theaters, and works in close collaboration with the hospital's hepatology, interventional radiology, oncology, and gastroenterology departments through a dedicated liver disease multidisciplinary team (MDT).

The department's liver MDT meets regularly to review all complex liver tumor cases, ensuring that every patient receives a personalized, evidence-based treatment plan developed collaboratively by hepatobiliary surgeons, hepatologists, interventional radiologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that surgical, ablative, embolization, and systemic therapy options are all considered and optimally sequenced for each patient.

Conditions Treated

• Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) — Surgical resection for resectable HCC; liver transplantation for patients meeting Milan or extended criteria; combined modality treatment for locally advanced disease
• Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma — Surgical resection with adequate margins; adjuvant chemotherapy coordination; IDH1/FGFR2-targeted therapy for advanced disease
• Colorectal Liver Metastases — Curative-intent hepatic resection; two-stage hepatectomy and portal vein embolization for initially unresectable disease; combined resection with primary tumor surgery
• Liver Metastases from Other Primaries — Neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases; breast cancer liver metastases; selected cases of other metastatic disease
• Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin Tumor) — Complex biliary resection with hepatectomy; liver transplantation for selected unresectable cases
• Distal Cholangiocarcinoma — Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) in collaboration with pancreatic surgery
• Gallbladder Cancer — Radical cholecystectomy with lymph node dissection; extended resection for locally advanced disease
• Benign Liver Tumors — Hepatic hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and hepatic adenoma requiring surgical management
• Liver Cysts & Hydatid Disease — Laparoscopic and open cyst management; surgical treatment of echinococcal disease
• Choledocholithiasis & Biliary Strictures — Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration; biliary reconstruction for benign strictures
• Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) — Endoscopic and surgical management; liver transplantation evaluation
• End-Stage Liver Disease — Liver transplantation evaluation and listing; living donor liver transplantation
• Portal Hypertension Complications — Surgical shunting and devascularization procedures for variceal bleeding refractory to endoscopic management

Leading Specialist

Prof. Shi Guoming (施国明) — Director, Hepatobiliary Surgery

Prof. Shi Guoming is one of China's most distinguished hepatobiliary surgeons and a nationally recognized authority in liver cancer surgery, liver transplantation, and minimally invasive hepatobiliary surgery. As Director of the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery at Ruijin Hospital, he leads one of China's most active and technically advanced hepatobiliary surgical programs.

Prof. Shi is particularly recognized for his expertise in the surgical management of hepatocellular carcinoma, including complex resections involving major vascular structures, repeat hepatectomy for recurrent HCC, and the integration of surgical resection with locoregional and systemic therapies in a multidisciplinary framework. His liver transplantation program encompasses both deceased donor and living donor transplantation, with outcomes that meet international benchmarks.

In minimally invasive surgery, Prof. Shi has been a leader in the adoption of laparoscopic and robotic hepatectomy in China, performing complex minimally invasive liver resections including major hepatectomies and anatomical segmentectomies that were previously considered feasible only through open surgery. His research on minimally invasive liver surgery outcomes has been published in leading surgical journals including Annals of Surgery, JAMA Surgery, and Hepatology.

Surgical Approaches & Technology

Minimally Invasive Hepatobiliary Surgery

• Laparoscopic Hepatectomy — Minor and major laparoscopic liver resections including hemihepatectomy, trisectionectomy, and anatomical segmentectomy
• Robotic Hepatectomy — da Vinci robotic liver resection for tumors in difficult anatomical locations requiring enhanced precision and dexterity
• Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy — Standard and difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy including acute cholecystitis and Mirizzi syndrome
• Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration — Minimally invasive management of choledocholithiasis
• Laparoscopic Biliary Reconstruction — Hepaticojejunostomy for benign biliary strictures

Complex Open Hepatobiliary Surgery

• Extended Hepatectomy — Resection of ≥5 liver segments for large or multifocal tumors
• Vascular Resection & Reconstruction — Hepatic vein, portal vein, and inferior vena cava resection and reconstruction for locally advanced tumors
• Two-Stage Hepatectomy — Portal vein embolization followed by staged resection for initially unresectable bilobar disease
• ALPPS Procedure — Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy for rapid liver hypertrophy
• Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma Resection — Complex biliary resection with hepatectomy and vascular reconstruction

Liver Transplantation

• Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation (DDLT) — Full-size and split liver transplantation from brain-dead and cardiac-death donors
• Living Donor Liver Transplantation (LDLT) — Right lobe and left lobe living donor transplantation with comprehensive donor evaluation and safety protocols
• Transplantation for HCC — Milan criteria and extended criteria (UCSF, up-to-7) transplantation for HCC; bridging therapy with TACE or ablation while awaiting transplant
• Post-Transplant Management — Immunosuppression optimization, rejection surveillance, and long-term graft care

Liver Tumor MDT

Every complex liver tumor case at Ruijin is reviewed by the liver MDT, which integrates surgical, interventional, oncological, and hepatological expertise to develop personalized treatment plans. The MDT considers the full range of treatment options including:

• Surgical resection — primary or after downstaging
• Liver transplantation — for HCC within transplant criteria
• Locoregional therapies — TACE, HAIC, RFA, MWA, SBRT
• Systemic therapy — atezolizumab + bevacizumab, sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib
• Combined modality approaches — conversion therapy to enable resection of initially unresectable disease

Why International Patients Choose Ruijin Hepatobiliary Surgery

• Surgical Excellence — High-volume hepatobiliary surgery program with outcomes benchmarked against international standards
• Minimally Invasive Leadership — One of China's most experienced laparoscopic and robotic hepatectomy programs
• Liver Transplantation — Comprehensive deceased donor and living donor transplantation program
• Liver Tumor MDT — Multidisciplinary tumor board ensuring personalized, evidence-based treatment planning
• Complex Surgery Capability — Vascular resection, two-stage hepatectomy, and ALPPS for technically challenging cases
• Cost-Effectiveness — World-class hepatobiliary surgery at significantly lower cost than equivalent care in Western countries

The CMCS Patient Journey

1. Initial Inquiry — Share your diagnosis, CT/MRI scans, pathology reports, liver function tests, tumor markers (AFP, CA19-9), and prior treatment history 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 hepatobiliary surgeon based on your specific condition.
4. MDT Submission — Where appropriate, we facilitate pre-arrival case review by Ruijin's liver MDT.
5. Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation and surgical slot with minimal waiting time.
6. Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near Ruijin Hospital, and Shanghai airport transfers.
7. Surgical Admission Support — Full coordination of pre-operative assessment, admission, and inpatient care.
8. Post-Operative Follow-Up — Pathology report translation, surveillance imaging coordination, and remote follow-up after you return home.

Book a Consultation

If you are seeking expert hepatobiliary surgical care in Shanghai — whether for liver cancer, bile duct cancer, liver metastases, liver transplantation, or a complex biliary condition — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with Ruijin Hospital's hepatobiliary surgery team.

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