China's National Leader in Thoracic Surgery & Lung Cancer Surgery
The Department of Thoracic Surgery at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital — affiliated with Tongji University — is widely recognized as one of China's premier thoracic surgery centers and one of the highest-volume lung cancer surgery programs in the world. With an annual surgical volume exceeding 10,000 thoracic procedures, the department has pioneered minimally invasive thoracic surgery in China, developing and refining uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic thoracic surgery techniques that are now adopted across the country. For international patients with lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors, or other thoracic conditions requiring surgery — Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital represents the gold standard in China and one of the premier thoracic surgery centers in the world. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end coordination for international patients throughout their thoracic surgical care journey.
About the Department
The thoracic surgery department is a national key clinical specialty and national thoracic surgery training center operating dedicated thoracic surgery wards, multiple robotic and VATS operating theaters (da Vinci Xi), an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program, a multidisciplinary lung cancer tumor board, a thoracic oncology program, and works in close collaboration with pulmonary oncology, respiratory medicine, radiation oncology, interventional pulmonology, and pathology through a fully integrated multidisciplinary team.
Faculty members publish regularly in leading thoracic surgery journals including Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Annals of Thoracic Surgery, European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Journal of Thoracic Oncology, and Thorax.
Lung Cancer Surgery
Minimally Invasive Lung Resection
Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital is China's national leader in minimally invasive lung cancer surgery, with one of the world's highest volumes of VATS and robotic lung resection:
- Uniportal VATS (Single-Port VATS) — Pioneered and refined at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital; single 2-3cm incision; no rib spreading; reduced pain; faster recovery; lobectomy, segmentectomy, and wedge resection via single port; one of the world's most experienced uniportal VATS programs
- Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (RATS) — da Vinci Xi robotic system; robotic lobectomy; robotic segmentectomy; robotic sleeve resection; 3D visualization; wristed instruments for complex dissection; one of China's highest-volume robotic thoracic surgery programs
- Multiportal VATS — Three-port and two-port VATS; for complex cases requiring additional access
- ERAS Protocol — Pre-operative optimization; no pre-operative fasting; epidural or paravertebral block; early chest drain removal; early mobilization; same-day or next-day discharge for selected cases
Anatomic Lung Resection
- Lobectomy — Standard of care for stage I-II NSCLC; VATS and robotic lobectomy; systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection; one of China's highest-volume lobectomy programs
- Segmentectomy — For small peripheral tumors (≤2cm) and ground-glass opacity (GGO) dominant lesions; anatomic segmentectomy with adequate margins; VATS and robotic segmentectomy; one of China's most experienced segmentectomy programs; JCOG0802/WJOG4607L evidence for non-inferior survival vs. lobectomy for small tumors
- Wedge Resection — For pure GGO lesions; subcentimeter nodules; high surgical risk patients; CT-guided hook wire or dye localization for small nodules
- Sleeve Lobectomy — Bronchial sleeve resection for centrally located tumors; lung-sparing alternative to pneumonectomy; VATS and robotic sleeve lobectomy; one of China's most experienced sleeve resection programs
- Pneumonectomy — For centrally located tumors not amenable to sleeve resection; extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) for selected mesothelioma cases
- Extended Resection — Chest wall resection; diaphragm resection; superior sulcus (Pancoast) tumor resection; pericardial resection; vascular resection and reconstruction
Lung Nodule Management & Surgery
- Ground-Glass Opacity (GGO) Management — Fleischner Society guidelines; Lung-RADS; CT surveillance protocols; surgical resection for growing or solid-component GGO; one of China's most experienced GGO surgery programs
- Multiple Pulmonary Nodules — Simultaneous bilateral VATS resection; staged resection; synchronous multiple primary lung cancers; metastasectomy
- Small Nodule Localization — CT-guided hook wire; CT-guided dye (methylene blue, indocyanine green); electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) localization; cone-beam CT-guided localization; for subcentimeter nodules not visible on VATS
Neoadjuvant & Adjuvant Therapy Integration
- Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy — Nivolumab + chemotherapy (CheckMate 816); pembrolizumab + chemotherapy (KEYNOTE-671); atezolizumab + chemotherapy; sintilimab + chemotherapy; pathological complete response (pCR) as surrogate endpoint
- Adjuvant Targeted Therapy — Osimertinib adjuvant for EGFR-mutated stage IB-IIIA NSCLC (ADAURA trial); alectinib adjuvant for ALK-positive NSCLC (ALINA trial); 3 years of adjuvant TKI
- Adjuvant Immunotherapy — Atezolizumab adjuvant for PD-L1 ≥50% stage II-IIIA NSCLC (IMpower010); pembrolizumab adjuvant (PEARLS/KEYNOTE-091)
- Adjuvant Chemotherapy — Cisplatin-based doublet for stage II-IIIA NSCLC; vinorelbine; pemetrexed; gemcitabine
Esophageal Cancer Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy (MIE) — Thoracoscopic and laparoscopic Ivor Lewis; McKeown (three-field); robotic MIE; one of Shanghai's most experienced MIE programs; reduced pulmonary complications vs. open; MIRO and TIME trial evidence
- Robotic Esophagectomy — da Vinci Xi robotic Ivor Lewis and McKeown; superior mediastinal dissection; reduced anastomotic leak
- Neoadjuvant Therapy — CROSS protocol (carboplatin + paclitaxel + radiation) for SCC and adenocarcinoma; FLOT for adenocarcinoma; nivolumab + chemotherapy (CheckMate 577 adjuvant); pembrolizumab + chemotherapy (KEYNOTE-590)
- Salvage Esophagectomy — After definitive chemoradiation; technically demanding; one of China's most experienced salvage esophagectomy programs
- Esophageal Reconstruction — Gastric conduit; colonic interposition; jejunal free flap for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction
Mediastinal Tumors
- Thymoma & Thymic Carcinoma — VATS and robotic thymectomy for early-stage thymoma; extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis; open resection for advanced thymoma; cisplatin-based chemotherapy; pembrolizumab for thymic carcinoma
- Mediastinal Germ Cell Tumors — BEP chemotherapy; post-chemotherapy resection of residual mass; coordination with oncology
- Mediastinal Cysts — Bronchogenic cyst; pericardial cyst; enteric cyst; VATS resection
- Neurogenic Tumors — Schwannoma; neurofibroma; ganglioneuroma; VATS and robotic resection; coordination with neurosurgery for dumbbell tumors
- Mediastinal Lymphoma — Biopsy and staging; coordination with hematology for treatment
Pleural Disease
- Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) — VATS pleurectomy/decortication (P/D); extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) for selected cases; nivolumab + ipilimumab (CheckMate 743); pembrolizumab; coordination with radiation oncology for IMRT
- Malignant Pleural Effusion — VATS pleurodesis; indwelling pleural catheter (PleurX); talc poudrage; coordination with interventional pulmonology
- Empyema — VATS decortication; fibrinolytic therapy; open decortication for chronic empyema
- Spontaneous Pneumothorax — VATS bullectomy and pleurodesis; uniportal VATS; recurrence prevention
Tracheal Surgery
- Tracheal Resection & Reconstruction — For tracheal stenosis; tracheal tumors; post-intubation stenosis; one of China's most experienced tracheal surgery programs
- Carinal Resection — For tumors involving the carina; complex airway reconstruction; one of China's most experienced carinal resection programs
- Tracheobronchomalacia — Tracheobronchoplasty; airway stenting coordination
Why International Patients Choose Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Thoracic Surgery
- World's Highest-Volume Lung Cancer Surgery — One of the world's highest-volume lung cancer surgery programs; >10,000 thoracic procedures annually; unparalleled experience
- Uniportal VATS Pioneer — China's national leader in single-port VATS; minimal trauma; fastest recovery; pioneered and refined at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital
- Segmentectomy Expertise — One of China's most experienced anatomic segmentectomy programs; lung-sparing surgery for small tumors and GGO lesions
- Robotic Sleeve Lobectomy — One of China's most experienced robotic sleeve resection programs; lung-sparing alternative to pneumonectomy
- Adjuvant Osimertinib & Alectinib — ADAURA and ALINA trial-based adjuvant targeted therapy for EGFR and ALK-positive NSCLC
- Cost-Effectiveness — World-class thoracic surgery at significantly lower cost than equivalent treatment in Western countries
The CMCS Patient Journey
- Initial Inquiry — Share your thoracic diagnosis, CT chest imaging, PET-CT, pulmonary function tests, bronchoscopy reports, and prior treatment history with CMCS.
- Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
- Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate thoracic surgeon based on your condition — lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumor, pleural disease, or tracheal surgery.
- MDT Submission — We facilitate pre-arrival case review by the multidisciplinary lung cancer tumor board.
- Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation and surgical slot with minimal waiting time.
- Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, and Shanghai airport transfers.
- Surgical Coordination — Full coordination of pre-operative assessment, pulmonary function testing, surgical admission, and ERAS program enrollment.
- Post-Operative Follow-Up — Surgical report translation, pathology result interpretation, adjuvant therapy coordination, and remote follow-up after you return home.
Book a Consultation
If you have lung cancer, esophageal cancer, a mediastinal tumor, a pleural condition, or any thoracic surgical condition — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital's world-leading thoracic surgery team.
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