2017 witnessed a number of significant da Vinci robotic events in China, ranging from the first da Vinci international training center’s debut in China to a few records-breaking da Vinci programs in Nanchang, Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Changsha, …….
With the arrival of 2018, we look back over the past 12 months to pick the top 10 da Vinci robotic news that shaped the year.
1. China’s first da Vinci Surgical Robotic Training Center launched in Changhai Hospital
On February 26, 2017, the da Vinci surgical robot international training center was established in Shanghai Changhai Hospital. It is the first of its kind in mainland China. Professor Yinghao Sun, the Chancellor of the Naval Medical University and the Academician of the Chinese Academy of engineering, serves as the director of the training center.
The establishment of the center has greatly promoted the development of da Vinci Surgery in China, as well as the certificated training of da Vinci surgeons. By the end of 2017, Changhai Training Center has completed 142 training programs with 142 graduated da Vinci Console Surgeons in total. The average yield of training (trainees number/per system/per month) reached a world record.
2. Chinese Medical Doctor Association for Medical Robot established
On September 17, 2017, President Yanling Zhang of CMDA (China Medical Doctor Association) announced the establishment of CMDA for Medical Robot Society. Academician Changqing Gao(PLA General Hospital) was elected as the President and Academician Yinghao Sun(Shanghai Changhai Hosp.) was elected as the President-elect. Prof. Biliang Chen (Xijing Hosp.), Prof. Jiafu Ji (Peking University Cancer Hosp.), Prof. Rong Liu (PLA General Hosp.), Prof. Qingquan Luo (Thoracic Hospital Affiliatedto Shanghai Jiaotong University), Prof. Wei Tian (Beijing Jishuitan Hosp.), Prof. Rong Wang (PLA General Hosp.), Prof. Bainan Xu (PLA General Hosp.), Prof. Qianjin Zhong (Daping Hosp.) and were elected as the Vice President.（Alphabetical order by last name）
3. China ranked No.1 for Impact Factor and Article Counts of da Vinci surgical literatures in APAC
4. Chindex Service team won Intuitive Surgical highest honor 「Diamond Award」
5. Prof. Rong Liu (PLA General Hospital) ranked No.1 in the annual individual surgical volume in the country
It has been a full year of good news from Prof. Liu’s progress in da Vinci surgery, including his quick reach the 500th case milestone on robotic Whipple procedure - one of the most difficult and most demanding operation, and the highest Annual Individual Surgical Yield (904 cases) in the country.
6. da Vinci Gynecology Surgery growing rapidly in China
In 2017, da Vinci’s application in gynecology has been developing rapidly. The surgical volume in the year constitutes over 40% of total volume of da Vinci gynecological surgery in China in the past decade. Eight famous Da Vinci Gynecologic Centers have been formed across the country, including the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, PLA General Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Gansu Provincial People’s Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. Among them, Prof. Min Xue and her team from the Third Xiangya Hospital completed 682 cases during the year and made a historic record in China.
7. Prof. Xu Zhang’s surgical team (PLA General Hospital) completed 1180 da Vinci cases, hitting record high in China
In 2017, Prof. Xu Zhang completed 861 da Vinci cases in a single year. Together with his team, Prof. Zhang’s center completed 1180 da Vinci urology cases in total throughout the year, hitting new record high in the country. Prof. Zhang is the first surgeon to reach the 3000 da Vinci cases milestone.
8. Eight da Vinci systems in China passed the 800 cases threshold
First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University 1012 cases
First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University 937 cases
Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital (Hepatobiliary Division II) 879 cases
The Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to the medical school of Nanjing University 846 cases
First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University 828 cases
Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine (first installation) 811 cases
The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University 803 cases
Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital (Department of Urology) 802 cases
9. The average utilization rate of da Vinci system in China ranked No.1 in the world
Globally da Vinci procedures continue to show impressive growth. The year of 2017 ended with a great result: 17% growth for the full year. In the meanwhile, da Vinci procedures grew almost triple in China: 49% growth YOY.
10. The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University cracked 1,000 mark of annual surgical volume per da Vinci system
In 2017, the da Vinci system in Nanchang yielded 1012 cases, hitting an unbelievable world record. As the only da Vinci robotic system in Jiangxi Province, her arrival brought the world’s state-of-the-art technology into the 「traditional revolutionary base」 and opened up a brand new era of minimally invasive surgery in Jiangxi Province.