The divison of gastroenyerology currently Include: Esophagogastrointestinal Surgery, Colorectal and Anal Surgery.

Esophagogastrointestinal Surgery：

Esophageal and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery is committed to provide the highest standards of clinical care for patients with esophageal, gastric and small bowel disease. Specialized services include evaluation and treatment of patients with: dysphagia, esophageal peristaltic disease, GERD, heartburn and reflux symptoms, benign and malignant tumors of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and small intestine, as well as foreign body ingestion, gastrointestinal bleeding, peptic ulcers and their complications, other emergencies such as esophageal perforation and caustic ingestion, and metabolic and bariatric surgery for morbid obesity. Especially after the introduction of the surgical robotic system in our hospital since January 2021, we have successfully performed weight reduction metabolic surgery.

In addition to surgery, diagnostic and therapeutic operations are regularly performed, which include esophagogastroduodenoscopy, small bowel microscopy, capsule endoscopy, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, stricture dilation for various etiologies, ultrasound endoscopy of the esophagus and stomach, hemostatic operations, balloon dilation for pancreatic flaccidity, insertion of self-expanding metal stents for palliative treatment of upper gastrointestinal obstruction caused by cancer, endoscopic resection of early esophageal and gastric cancers (endoscopic mucosal dissection, ESD).

Specialized diagnostic instruments also include esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH monitoring and isotope ratio mass spectrometry H. pylori C13-urea breath test. Outpatient services are available at the Surgical Clinic on the third floor of The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital from Monday to Sunday.

Advantages and Development：

The department is internationally known for its management of patients with esophageal, gastric and other upper gastrointestinal diseases, especially esophageal and gastric cancers. It has become a major referral center not only in Hong Kong, but throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Globally, for post-operative management of esophageal cancer, our department is one of those with the lowest complications and mortality rates. Esophagectomy has a clear volume-effectiveness relationship, and our status as a center with a large number of patients makes this possible. Research results are regularly published in international journals with high impact factors. Recent surgical developments include expanded lymph node dissection for esophageal and gastric cancers and pioneering minimally invasive surgical techniques; examples of these include thoracoscopic combined with laparoscopic esophageal cancer resection, laparoscopic major gastrectomy, laparoscopic or thoracoscopic techniques for peptic ulcers, laparoscopic staging and laparoscopic ultrasonography for gastric cancer, laparoscopic and thoracoscopic resection for benign esophageal and gastric tumors, esophageal incontinence in patients with cardia myotomy, laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Currently, we have the most advanced equipment available for performing minimally invasive procedures.

For the treatment of esophageal and gastric cancers, we use a combined multisectoral approach. We work with clinical oncology centers to put many patients on neoadjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy, as well as post-operative radiotherapy. This has made it possible to stage down many patients with advanced tumors, so more curative resections can be performed.With better surgical outcomes, the overall survival of patients with esophagogastric malignancies has improved significantly over the years.

Colorectal and Anorectal Surgery：

The Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the colorectum, anus, small intestine and appendix. At the same time, the department is responsible for both elective and emergency abdominal wall hernia patients, relying on general surgery technical expertise and advanced laparoscopic techniques.

Outpatient clinic: Monday to Sunday (Outpatient Clinic, 3rd floor, Gastrointestinal Surgery Specialty Clinic)

Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery in colorectal surgery has developed rapidly. With the accumulation of experience, our department is now able to perform almost all colorectal surgeries through laparoscopic techniques. We currently routinely performs laparoscopic transabdominal anterior perineal resection, (ultralow)low anterior resection, and total colorectal resection + ileal storage pouch surgery. Our results show faster recovery and higher patient satisfaction with minimally invasive techniques. Laparoscopic techniques are also used for complex benign colorectal diseases, such as complex colonic diverticulosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Since the introduction of the surgical robotic system in January 2021, we have successfully performed several cases of robotic-assisted radical rectal cancer resection with excellent treatment results. In addition, our department has pioneered the technique of transanal endoscopic excision (TEO), which can be used for giant rectal polyps and masses that are difficult to treat with soft endoscopy, improving the chance of anal preservation as well as reducing the risk of surgery for patients.

Most members of the department have mastered advanced laparoscopic techniques and some senior doctors have been qualified for robotic surgery. The development of minimally invasive colorectal surgery is the main direction of the department, and in addition to routine complex colorectal surgery, we are also exploring single-port laparoscopy and transnatural cavity endoscopic surgery.

For the treatment of cancers, our department also carries out intraoperative and postoperative heat-infused peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) technology, which is currently considered by international expert consensus to significantly improve the treatment effect of patients with high risk of recurrence and metastasis, prolong the life of patients with advanced tumors and improve life treatment. In addition, for tumor and obese patients, our hospital adopts MDT management model (multidisciplinary collaboration) to develop individualized treatment plan for each patient, in order to achieve the best treatment effect.

Anorectal Surgery：

Our department was the first to perform anastomotic hemorrhoidectomy in Hong Kong, and observations have shown that it has the advantages of less pain and faster recovery. This technique has been routinely performed in our outpatient clinic since 2012. At the same time, other treatment methods for hemorrhoids are actively explored. At the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, color Doppler-guided hemorrhoid artery ligation instrument will soon be available for application.

Hernia Surgery：

Hernia surgery has evolved rapidly in recent years and is an area of continuous research and improvement. Developments in hernia surgery have focused on minimally invasive repair, artificial patch improvements, and extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair. Most incisional hernias in our department are now repaired laparoscopically to reduce the risk of surgical trauma. For some suitable patients, we also perform emergency laparoscopic repair of incarcerated hernia. In addition, under the leadership of Prof. Joe Fan Kingman, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on hernia have been conducted and published in famous foreign journals, under the guidance of which our department will provide patients with more scientific and effective treatment and management.

Endoscopy and stent placement：

In addition to diagnosis, our department routinely performs endoscopic polypectomy and metal stent placement, so that most patients with acute colorectal obstruction do not require temporary enterostomy.

Members of the department are mastering various advanced endoscopic techniques, including endoscopic ultrasound and rectal 3D ultrasound, and some senior doctors have been trained in endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection.