Page 148 - HKU Surgery 110 Anniversary E-Book

Chapter V. Embracing the Modern Age

A Continued Need for Esophageal and Upper Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic

Specialisation Gastrointestinal Surgery Surgery
Building on the achievements of GB The Division of Hepatobiliary and
Ong and John Wong, the Division Pancreatic Surgery has built a global
is internationally renowned for its reputation through its work in pioneering
The Department now has 14 clinical divisions, a testament to the diversity of its management of patients with esophageal new surgical techniques, extending patient
strengths and talents. Some are world-renowned and most are tertiary and quaternary and gastric cancer. GB Ong described the coverage, and considerably reducing
referral centres that perform the most advanced operations in their fields. first pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy morbidity and mortality, with a five-year
in 1960. The first series of video-assisted survival rate for cancer exceeding 50%.
thoracoscopic esophagectomy in Hong The team has adopted laparoscopic and
Breast Surgery Colorectal Surgery Kong was reported in 1995. The Division intraoperative ultrasound and ultrasonic
The Division of Breast Surgery is a Colorectal cancer is the third most has achieved one of the lowest morbidity dissector, coupled with strong patient care
premier centre for clinical treatment and common cancer in Hong Kong. The and mortality rates after esophagectomy in and surveillance. The Division is also one
research in breast disease including breast Division of Colorectal Surgery, established the world. The team also first reported the of the world’s leading centres for clinical
cancer. Hong Kong Hereditary Breast in 1995, has pioneered innovations and use of intraoperative continuous recurrent trials on new treatment modalities and
Cancer Family Registry established by minimally invasive surgery in the city. laryngeal nerve monitoring during drugs for liver cancer.
Professor Ava Kwong, Division Chief, Among many achievements, it was esophagectomy worldwide. Other firsts Liver Transplantation
has both helped patients monitor risk the first to establish the use of total in Hong Kong include the use of High- HKU Surgery is world famous for its liver
and spearheaded regional research mesorectal excision as the standard Resolution Manometry and EndoFLip transplantation achievements. Led by
in breast and ovarian cancer genetics. surgical resection for rectal cancer, the as investigation tools, radiofrequency Professors Fan Sheung-Tat and Professors

The Division was the first to perform first to adopt a clinical pathway for all ablation to treat esophageal pathologies, Lo Chung-Mau, the team pioneered
cryosurgery, HIFU (High - Intensity elective colectomies and elective rectal and the performance of the first living donor liver transplantation
Focused Ultrasound) treatment and resections, and the first to perform single Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for using both a left lobe graft and right-
robotic breast surgery in Hong Kong. incision laparoscopic colectomy. gastroesophageal reflux disease in Asia.
lobe graft for high-urgency situations.
Cardiothoracic Surgery Endocrine Surgery Head and Neck Surgery Five-year survival rates exceed 85% in
both adults and children. The unit also
Cardiothoracic surgery has been a The Division of Endocrine Surgery is The Division of Head and Neck Surgery
feature of the Department since the the only full-time surgical unit in Hong is a tertiary referral centre for Hong performed the first combined heart and
early leadership of Professor GB Ong, Kong that solely takes care of patients Kong with a strong reputation in Asia liver transplantation in 2010. For its
who performed the first open-heart with thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal or and internationally. While it uses a achievements, the team was awarded the
operation in Hong Kong in 1964. The endocrine pancreatic conditions. It has diversity of treatments with patients, national First-class State Scientific and
Division is Hong Kong’s largest tertiary innovated treatments, such as being the it also pioneered the maxillary swing Technological Progress Award in 2005.
referral centre for heart and lung diseases first in Hong Kong to adopt robotic- operation for nasopharyngeal cancer (led
and performs a range of surgeries, from assisted thyroidectomy, the first in Asia by Professor William Wei) and extra-
complex to minimally invasive. It is also to use high intensity focussed ultrasound cranial intra-cranial bypass surgery for
the exclusive provider of intra-thoracic (HIFU) ablation to treat symptomatic recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer. It has
organ transplantation. The Division also thyroid nodules and one of the early also established transcervical resection
embraces innovative technologies and is adopters of the trans-oral vestibular of pharyngo-oesophageal tumours,
often a leader in adopting them in Hong thyroidectomy. and innovated with robotic-assisted
Kong and Asia. procedures.

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