1.Reforming general practitioner training in China: system construction and practical exploration for a new era
Zequan JI ; Bingjie HU ; Yuyin LIAN ; Fangjian LI ; Xiang LIANG ; Yichuan LUO
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2025;24(9):1163-1167
This paper analyzes current issues in general practitioners (GP) education (e.g., inadequate systems, faculty shortages, misaligned training with community needs, low workforce attractiveness) and proposes strategies for reform in the new development era. Key recommendations include: strengthening academic discipline building in general practice within medical universities; innovating curricula to integrate prevention with treatment and emphasize practical skills; leveraging institutional resources to foster clinician-educator-researcher roles; tailoring training pathways to regional contexts; deepening collaboration between medical education and healthcare delivery systems; and building a robust lifelong learning framework for GPs. Furthermore, the paper details the comprehensive reform initiatives undertaken by Guangzhou Medical University (GMU). These include establishing integrated education platforms spanning university, hospital, and community settings. GMU′s experience offers valuable insights for enhancing GP training quality and scalability in China.
2.Reforming general practitioner training in China: system construction and practical exploration for a new era
Zequan JI ; Bingjie HU ; Yuyin LIAN ; Fangjian LI ; Xiang LIANG ; Yichuan LUO
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2025;24(9):1163-1167
This paper analyzes current issues in general practitioners (GP) education (e.g., inadequate systems, faculty shortages, misaligned training with community needs, low workforce attractiveness) and proposes strategies for reform in the new development era. Key recommendations include: strengthening academic discipline building in general practice within medical universities; innovating curricula to integrate prevention with treatment and emphasize practical skills; leveraging institutional resources to foster clinician-educator-researcher roles; tailoring training pathways to regional contexts; deepening collaboration between medical education and healthcare delivery systems; and building a robust lifelong learning framework for GPs. Furthermore, the paper details the comprehensive reform initiatives undertaken by Guangzhou Medical University (GMU). These include establishing integrated education platforms spanning university, hospital, and community settings. GMU′s experience offers valuable insights for enhancing GP training quality and scalability in China.
3.Application status and development prospects of indocyanine green-guided robotic gastrec-tomy
Xiang HU ; Yichuan FAN ; Chi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(3):310-316
With the continuous development of robotic surgery technology, the application of indocyanine green (ICG) as a fluorescent dye in robotic gastrectomy has gradually attracted attention. ICG can accumulate in tumor tissues through local or intravenous injection, enabling real-time imaging of tumors and related lymph nodes, thereby enhancing the precision and safety of surgery. ICG can effectively aid in identifying tumor boundaries, reducing the risk of missed exci-sions, and improving postoperative prognosis in robotic gastrectomy. However, further optimization of imaging technology, large-scale clinical trials, and integration with new technologies such as artificial intelligence are still needed to enhance the reliability and efficacy of ICG application. In the future, the broad prospect of ICG in robotic assisted-gastrectomy is expected to promote the precision medicine process of gastric cancer treatment. The authors analyze the development and evolution of robotic surgical systems, the biological characteristics of ICG tracing, and the application of ICG tracing in the minimally invasive field of gastric cancer, aiming to explore the application status and development prospects of ICG in this field.
4.Safety and feasibility of Da Vinci robotic-assisted proximal gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma
Yichuan FAN ; Chi ZHANG ; Pin LIANG ; Xiang HU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;40(8):613-618
Objective:To evaluate the safety and feasibility of Da Vinci robot-assisted proximal gastrectomy (PG) for proximal gastric cancer (PGC) and adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG).Method:Twenty-five patients (PGC: n=7; AEG: n=18) undergoing Da Vinci-assisted PG at the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from Jan 2021 to Mar 2025 were divided into (indocyanine green ,ICG) ( n=9) and non-ICG ( n=16) groups based on whether intraoperative ICG navigation was used. Perioperative outcomes and pathological data were compared. Results:All operations were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery. The median proximal resection margin was 3.0 cm (2.5-3.0) cm, and the median distal resection margin was 4.0 cm (3.0-5.0) cm. Operative time in the ICG and non-ICG groups was (294.4±41.3) min and (354.4±67.4) min, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( t=2.760, P< 0.05). The total number of lymph nodes harvested, as well as D 1 and D 2 LN stations, was (29.3±14.8) vs. (21.8±6.3), 17.0 (10.0-24.8) vs. 14.0 (11.0-22.5), and 10.0 (2.0-17.0) vs. 7.2 (2.0-7.5) in the ICG and non-ICG groups, respectively. Although the ICG group showed a trend toward higher LN yield, the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Da Vinci robotic assisted proximal gastrectomy is safe and feasible for treating PGC and AEG. ICG fluorescence imaging demonstrates promising clinical value.
5.Application status and development prospects of indocyanine green-guided robotic gastrec-tomy
Xiang HU ; Yichuan FAN ; Chi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(3):310-316
With the continuous development of robotic surgery technology, the application of indocyanine green (ICG) as a fluorescent dye in robotic gastrectomy has gradually attracted attention. ICG can accumulate in tumor tissues through local or intravenous injection, enabling real-time imaging of tumors and related lymph nodes, thereby enhancing the precision and safety of surgery. ICG can effectively aid in identifying tumor boundaries, reducing the risk of missed exci-sions, and improving postoperative prognosis in robotic gastrectomy. However, further optimization of imaging technology, large-scale clinical trials, and integration with new technologies such as artificial intelligence are still needed to enhance the reliability and efficacy of ICG application. In the future, the broad prospect of ICG in robotic assisted-gastrectomy is expected to promote the precision medicine process of gastric cancer treatment. The authors analyze the development and evolution of robotic surgical systems, the biological characteristics of ICG tracing, and the application of ICG tracing in the minimally invasive field of gastric cancer, aiming to explore the application status and development prospects of ICG in this field.
6.Safety and feasibility of Da Vinci robotic-assisted proximal gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma
Yichuan FAN ; Chi ZHANG ; Pin LIANG ; Xiang HU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;40(8):613-618
Objective:To evaluate the safety and feasibility of Da Vinci robot-assisted proximal gastrectomy (PG) for proximal gastric cancer (PGC) and adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG).Method:Twenty-five patients (PGC: n=7; AEG: n=18) undergoing Da Vinci-assisted PG at the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from Jan 2021 to Mar 2025 were divided into (indocyanine green ,ICG) ( n=9) and non-ICG ( n=16) groups based on whether intraoperative ICG navigation was used. Perioperative outcomes and pathological data were compared. Results:All operations were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery. The median proximal resection margin was 3.0 cm (2.5-3.0) cm, and the median distal resection margin was 4.0 cm (3.0-5.0) cm. Operative time in the ICG and non-ICG groups was (294.4±41.3) min and (354.4±67.4) min, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( t=2.760, P< 0.05). The total number of lymph nodes harvested, as well as D 1 and D 2 LN stations, was (29.3±14.8) vs. (21.8±6.3), 17.0 (10.0-24.8) vs. 14.0 (11.0-22.5), and 10.0 (2.0-17.0) vs. 7.2 (2.0-7.5) in the ICG and non-ICG groups, respectively. Although the ICG group showed a trend toward higher LN yield, the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Da Vinci robotic assisted proximal gastrectomy is safe and feasible for treating PGC and AEG. ICG fluorescence imaging demonstrates promising clinical value.
7.Short-term outcomes of the Da Vinci Xi (fourth generation) robotic surgical system and laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a retrospective cohort study
Yichuan FAN ; Chi ZHANG ; Pin LIANG ; Xiang HU
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2024;27(8):808-815
Objective:To compare and analyze the short-term efficacy of the Da Vinci Xi (fourth generation) robotic surgical system and laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Method:In this retrospective cohort study, clinical pathological data of 190 patients with gastric cancer were collected from the clinical database of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from 2020 Dec to 2023 May. The cohort comprised 136 men and 54 women aged 65 (30–85) years. Ninety of these patients had undergone robot assisted radical resection of gastric cancer and reconstruction of the digestive tract and were assigned to the robot-assisted group. The remaining 100 patients had undergone laparoscopic- assisted radical resection of gastric cancer and reconstruction of the digestive tract and were assigned to the laparoscopic control group. Variables investigated included surgical and postoperative factors and postoperative complications.Result:The procedure was successfully completed without the need to transition to open surgery in every patient in both groups. The median duration of surgery was 315 (270, 360) minutes and 240 (202, 280) minutes, median intraoperative blood loss 20 (10, 30) mL and 30 (10, 50) mL, median incision length 12.0 (10.8,13.0) cm and 10.0 (8.0, 10.8) cm, median time to first postoperative passage of flatus 4 (3, 5) days and 4 (4, 5) days, median time to first postoperative fluid intake 6 (4, 7) days and 8 (6, 9) days, time to gastric tube removal 4 (3, 7) days and 6 (5, 8) days, median time to drainage tube removal 8 (7, 10) days and 10 (9, 12) days, median duration of postoperative hospitalization 8 (7, 11) days and 12 (10, 14) days, and cost of surgery (7.6±1.2)×10 4 yuan and (4.0±0.6)×10 4 yuan in the robot-assisted and laparoscopic control groups, respectively. All the differences in the above indicators between the two groups of patients were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were also significantly fewer complications in the robot-assisted than the laparoscopic control group (28.9% [26/90] vs. 44.0% [44/100], χ 2=0.31, P=0.031). Further subgroup analysis showed that the following factors were associated with greater improvement in the robot-assisted than laparoscopic control group: male sex (OR=0.41, 95%CI: 0.20–0.83, P=0.015), body mass index Conclusion:The Da Vinci robotic surgical system is safe and feasible for gastrectomy achieving a shorter recover period and fewer preoperative comorbidities.
8.Short-term outcomes of the Da Vinci Xi (fourth generation) robotic surgical system and laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a retrospective cohort study
Yichuan FAN ; Chi ZHANG ; Pin LIANG ; Xiang HU
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2024;27(8):808-815
Objective:To compare and analyze the short-term efficacy of the Da Vinci Xi (fourth generation) robotic surgical system and laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Method:In this retrospective cohort study, clinical pathological data of 190 patients with gastric cancer were collected from the clinical database of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from 2020 Dec to 2023 May. The cohort comprised 136 men and 54 women aged 65 (30–85) years. Ninety of these patients had undergone robot assisted radical resection of gastric cancer and reconstruction of the digestive tract and were assigned to the robot-assisted group. The remaining 100 patients had undergone laparoscopic- assisted radical resection of gastric cancer and reconstruction of the digestive tract and were assigned to the laparoscopic control group. Variables investigated included surgical and postoperative factors and postoperative complications.Result:The procedure was successfully completed without the need to transition to open surgery in every patient in both groups. The median duration of surgery was 315 (270, 360) minutes and 240 (202, 280) minutes, median intraoperative blood loss 20 (10, 30) mL and 30 (10, 50) mL, median incision length 12.0 (10.8,13.0) cm and 10.0 (8.0, 10.8) cm, median time to first postoperative passage of flatus 4 (3, 5) days and 4 (4, 5) days, median time to first postoperative fluid intake 6 (4, 7) days and 8 (6, 9) days, time to gastric tube removal 4 (3, 7) days and 6 (5, 8) days, median time to drainage tube removal 8 (7, 10) days and 10 (9, 12) days, median duration of postoperative hospitalization 8 (7, 11) days and 12 (10, 14) days, and cost of surgery (7.6±1.2)×10 4 yuan and (4.0±0.6)×10 4 yuan in the robot-assisted and laparoscopic control groups, respectively. All the differences in the above indicators between the two groups of patients were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were also significantly fewer complications in the robot-assisted than the laparoscopic control group (28.9% [26/90] vs. 44.0% [44/100], χ 2=0.31, P=0.031). Further subgroup analysis showed that the following factors were associated with greater improvement in the robot-assisted than laparoscopic control group: male sex (OR=0.41, 95%CI: 0.20–0.83, P=0.015), body mass index Conclusion:The Da Vinci robotic surgical system is safe and feasible for gastrectomy achieving a shorter recover period and fewer preoperative comorbidities.
9.A comparative study on short-term efficacy and safety between da Vinci robotic and laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma in a single center
Chi ZHANG ; Yichuan FAN ; Xiang HU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2024;39(10):752-757
Objective:To evaluate whether robotic gastrectomy using the da Vinci surgical system offers advantages over laparoscopic surgery in short-term outcomes and safety.Methods:Clinical data were collected from 247 patients who underwent either laparoscopic or da Vinci Xi surgical system-assisted radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer at Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University between Dec 2020 and Apr 2024. Intraoperative indicators and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:The operative time was 300 (270-360) minutes in the robotic surgery group and 240 (202-280) minutes in the laparoscopic group. Intraoperative blood loss was 20 (10-30) ml and 30 (10-50) ml, respectively. The incision length was 12.0 (10.0-12.0) cm for the robotic group and 10.0 (8.0-10.8) cm for the laparoscopic group. The first postoperative anal exhaust time was 4 (3-5) days in the robotic group and 4 (4-5) days in the laparoscopic group. The time to first intake of liquid diet was 5 (4-7) days in the robotic group and 8 (6-9) days in the laparoscopic group. The time to nasogastric tube removal was 4 (3-6) days and 5 (5-8) days, respectively. Drainage tube removal occurred at 8 (6-10) days in the robotic group and 10 (9-12) days in the laparoscopic group. The postoperative hospital stay was 9 (7-11) days for the robotic group and 12 (10-14) days for the laparoscopic group (all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of proximal and distal resection margins, total number of dissected lymph nodes, or the dissection number of D 1 and D 2 lymph nodes ( P>0.05). The overall complication rate was significantly lower in the robotic group (28.6%) compared to the laparoscopic group (40.5%) ( χ2=39.59, P<0.001). The lower complication rate in the robotic group was mainly due to a reduction in surgery- and abdomen-related complications (14.3% vs. 33.9%, χ2=13.04, P<0.001). The robotic group had a higher proportion of mild complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, specifically grade Ⅰ ( χ2=5.07, P=0.024) and grade Ⅱ ( χ2=4.41, P=0.036). Conclusion:The da Vinci surgical system is a safe and feasible option for the treatment of gastric cancer, offering superior short-term outcomes compared to laparoscopic surgery.
10.Clinical efficacy of da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system assisted pylorus and vagus preser-ving partial gastrectomy for early gastric cancer
Yichuan FAN ; Chi ZHANG ; Maohua WEI ; Hua ZHONG ; Haitao DUAN ; Weifeng SUN ; Liang CAO ; Jian ZHANG ; Pin LIANG ; Xiang HU
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2023;22(8):1014-1020
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system assisted pylorus and vagus preserving partial gastrectomy (RaPPG) for early gastric cancer.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 40 patients with early gastric cancer who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from December 2020 to November 2022 were collected. There were 26 males and 14 females, aged (64±8)years. Of the 40 patients, 19 patients undergoing da Vinci Xi RaPPG were divided into the robotic assisted group, and 21 patients undergoing laparoscopic assisted pylorus and vagus preserving partial gastrectomy (PPG) were divided into the laparoscopic control group. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) postoperative complications; (3) follow-up. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3) or M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Comparison of ordinal data was conducted using the rank sum test. Results:(1) Surgical situations. All patients in the two groups underwent surgery successfully, without conversion to laparotomy. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, time to postoperative first flatus, time to postoperative first liquid food intake, time to post-operative drainage tube removal, duration of postoperative hospital stay, tumor diameter, distance from distal resection margin to tumor were (298±52)minutes, 10(10, 10)mL, 3.0(3.0, 3.0)days, 3.0(3.0,4.0)days, 6.0(6.0,8.0)days, 7.0(6.0,8.0)days, (2.3±0.7)cm, 3.0(2.0,3.0)cm in patients of the robotic assisted group, versus (236±37)minutes, 25(15,50)mL, 5.0(4.0,5.0)days, 6.0(5.5,7.0)days, 8.0(8.0,9.5)days, 8.0(7.5,9.5)days, (2.9±1.1)cm ,2.0(1.5,2.0)cm in patients of the laparoscopic control group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( t=4.41, Z=-3.38, -4.75, -4.38, -2.98, -2.58, t=-2.10, Z=-3.03, P<0.05). (2) Postoperative complications. Cases with postoperative complications, cases with delayed gastric emptying, cases with acid regurgita-tion, cases with atelectasis, cases with infection of incision, cases with hyperamylasemia, cases with uroschesis were 6, 1, 1, 0, 1, 3, 0 in patients of the robotic assisted group. The above indicators were 20, 4, 3, 2, 1, 9, 1 in patients of the laparoscopic control group. There was a significant difference in the postoperative complications between the two groups ( χ2=17.77, P<0.05). (3) Follow-up. Of the 40 patients, 34 patients were followed up. There were 16 patients in the robotic assisted group who were followed up for 9(range, 6-18)months, and there were 18 patients in the laparoscopic control group who were followed up for 16(range, 9-23)months. During the follow-up period, all patients had good anastomosis healing, pyloric contraction function, and gastric emptying function. Conclusions:da Vinci Xi RaPPG is safe and feasible for the treatment of early gastric cancer. Compared with laparoscopic assisted PPG, treatment of gastric cancer with da Vinci Xi RaPPG can significantly reduce the volume of intraoperative blood loss, shorten the time to postoperative first flatus, time to postoperative first liquid food intake, time to postoperative drainage tube removal, duration of postoperative hospital stay, benefit the distance from distal resection margin to tumor, and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail