Huashan Hospital Fudan University, founded in 1907 as the first hospital in China established by Chinese people—the General Hospital of the Red Cross Society of China—is now a national hospital under the administration of the National Health Commission and affiliated to Fudan University. It is one of the most internationally influential medical, teaching, and research centers in China, housing three national centers: the National Center for Neurological Diseases, the National Center for Infectious Diseases, and the National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, with multiple disciplines ranked among the top in the country.
The Department of Obesity and Hernia Surgery is a leading specialty center in China dedicated to the minimally invasive treatment of obesity, metabolic disorders, and various types of hernias, integrating clinical care, scientific research, education, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
I. Department Overview and Academic Strength
Established in 2000 with the introduction of laparoscopic hernia repair techniques by Professor Yao Qiyuan, the department has gradually expanded into bariatric and metabolic surgery. In 2023, it officially became the Center for Obesity and Hernia Surgery, General Surgery Department, serving as the institutional base for the Fudan University Hernia Center—the first university-affiliated specialized hernia platform in China.
Centered on minimally invasive techniques, the department has developed innovative surgical methods such as the LAMP technique for inguinal hernia repair and the Lap-re-Do technique for parastomal hernia repair. The latter has been included in international surgical textbooks and contributed to multiple domestic and international hernia treatment guidelines.
II. Clinical Features and Service Scope
- Obesity and Metabolic Disease Management
Offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment for morbid obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease, and other metabolic syndromes.
Treatment modalities include:
Lifestyle interventions (diet and exercise)
Pharmacotherapy
Endoscopic bariatric procedures
Minimally invasive surgeries (e.g., sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass)
Hosts a Multidisciplinary Obesity Clinic (MDT), integrating expertise from endocrinology, gastroenterology, and sports medicine for one-stop care. - Hernia Diagnosis and Treatment
Treats all types of hernias, including:
Inguinal, umbilical, incisional, and parastomal hernias
Hiatal hernias and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Postpartum rectus diastasis and related abdominal wall dysfunction
Implements a day-surgery model, allowing patients to be admitted, operated on, and discharged on the same day, ensuring rapid recovery and minimal trauma. - Specialized Technical Highlights
Lap-re-Do Technique: Designed for complex parastomal hernias, significantly reducing recurrence rates.
Minimally Invasive Comprehensive Repair: Combines mesh repair, suture reinforcement, and individualized assessment to improve long-term outcomes.
Post-Bariatric Body Contouring: Offers abdominal wall reconstruction for patients with excess skin following significant weight loss.
III. Expert Team and Academic Influence
The department brings together a team of high-level clinical and research professionals:
Professor Yao Qiyuan
Academic leader and doctoral supervisor, Director of the Day Surgery Center at Huashan Hospital, specializing in minimally invasive treatment of obesity, diabetes, and complex hernias.
Associate Professor Hua Rong
Expert in minimally invasive surgery for morbid obesity and diabetes, as well as comprehensive management of hiatal hernias and GERD.
Associate Professors Shen Qiwei, Ding Rui, He Kai, and others
Each with specialized expertise in individualized metabolic therapy, postpartum rectus diastasis repair, and radical treatment of abdominal wall tumors.
The team leads multiple provincial and ministerial-level research projects, has published dozens of SCI papers, and contributes to several authoritative surgical textbooks, advancing the standardization and development of bariatric and hernia surgery in China.
