The First Stop of the Fourth “NeoSilk Path” International Surgical Exchange Program in Thoracic Surgery Has Successfully Concluded at Jiangsu Province Hospital!

The six-day Fourth “NeoSilk Path” International Surgical Exchange Program in Thoracic Surgery, hosted by Bluesail Surgical, officially kicked off on May 5, 2025. This exchange program brought together seven distinguished thoracic surgery experts from six hospitals across Germany for academic exchange. It served not only as a platform to promote international collegiality and friendship, but also as an important opportunity for academic sharing and the dissemination of knowledge in thoracic surgery.

First Stop: Jiangsu Province Hospital

Jiangsu Province Hospital originated as the medical clinic affiliated with the Jiangsu Provincial Medical School, established in 1936. It has since developed into a comprehensive Class III Grade A (top-tier) general hospital administered by Jiangsu Province. The hospital serves as the National (Jiangsu) Emergency Medical Rescue Base and has been selected as one of the first batch of national base units for the “Public Hospital High-Quality Development Medical Service Capacity Enhancement Project” as well as one of the first batch of implementation units for the “Difficult and Complicated Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Capacity Enhancement Project.” It is also a provincial pilot hospital for the high-quality development of public hospitals, one of the first research-oriented hospitals in Jiangsu Province, and a designated high-level hospital in the province. Jiangsu Province Hospital’s Department of Thoracic Surgery is a key clinical specialty in Jiangsu that integrates medical care, teaching, and research. With robust technical strength and nationally leading clinical standards, the department specializes in minimally invasive surgery and the comprehensive treatment of complex thoracic tumors. It performs over 8,000 surgeries annually, making it one of the most important thoracic surgical centers in East China.

The hospital always prioritizes safeguarding public health, upholding the spirit of “Excellence in Ethics and Skills, Patients First.” Remaining true to its public welfare mission and social responsibilities, the hospital plays critical roles in emergency medical rescue responses and in providing medical support for major events, and its critical care team was honored by authorities as a national “Model of the Times”. It has actively carried out medical aid missions in Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, and Shaanxi, using team-based support to improve healthcare in those regions. The hospital also engages in a wide range of public welfare initiatives, such as free health screening clinics, targeted charitable assistance programs, and blood and marrow donation drives.

First Stop Meeting Overview

From May 5–7, 2025, the first stop of the “NeoSilk Path” International Surgical Exchange Program in Thoracic Surgery at Jiangsu Province Hospital was successfully concluded. During this session, seven German experts visited Nanjing and, through live surgical demonstrations, special lectures, and academic seminars, explored cutting-edge techniques in minimally invasive lung cancer surgery, precision segmentectomy, and comprehensive treatment. The event presented a high-level academic feast for thoracic surgeons from both China and abroad.

On the morning of May 6, the exchange program officially opened at Jiangsu Province Hospital. The opening ceremony was hosted by the team of Prof. Zhicheng He, with Prof. Liang Chen delivering a welcome address and Prof. Jun Wang providing a detailed introduction to the hospital and the development of its Department of Thoracic Surgery. After the ceremony, all participating experts gathered for a group photo to mark the occasion

During the program, Prof. Liang Chen’s team and Prof. Weibin Wu’s team performed several segmentectomy surgical demonstrations, showcasing China’s state-of-the-art capabilities in minimally invasive thoracic surgery. Throughout the procedures, the visiting and host experts engaged in in-depth exchange on surgical techniques and perioperative management.

Notably, Bluesail Surgical’s Siderlux® Powered Articulating Endoscopic Linear Cutter was extensively utilized in these surgeries. Different models of stapler cartridges designed for various lung tissue thicknesses, which ensured optimal closure. The powered firing greatly reduced any instrument vibration or deviation, avoiding tissue traction and protecting the anastomosis. When cutting and sealing lung tissue, the device effectively minimizes bleeding

On the afternoon of May 6, the focus shifted to academic discussion. Prof. Liang Chen presented a featured report titled “Cone-shaped Segmentectomy for Deep Located Early Lung Cancer.” In this talk, he introduced his original “cone-shaped segmentectomy” concept, which simplifies all types of segmental lung resections into an anatomical resection defined by a “cone tip” and a “cone surface.” This innovative theory deepened the Jiangsu thoracic team’s understanding of individualized surgical resection and accelerated the adoption of these techniques. He noted that lobectomy was once the standard procedure for early-stage lung cancer despite its considerable impact on pulmonary function. Segmentectomy, by contrast, can achieve equivalent therapeutic outcomes while better preserving lung function, and it is gradually becoming the primary option for peripheral early-stage lung cancers. However, traditional segmentectomy still faces limitations with tumors in deep or complex locations. To address this, segmentectomy at the subsegment level further improves lung tissue preservation, though it remains challenging for nodules located deep near the hilum. Currently, non-surgical approaches such as ablation and stereotactic body radiotherapy offer complementary strategies for these difficult cases. Prof. Chen emphasized that moving forward, a combination of multiple technologies and continuous innovation will be required to achieve more precise and individualized treatment of early lung cancer.

The program’s second day continued with another round of academic sessions after the morning surgical observations. On May 7, Prof. Weibin Wu opened with a special lecture on “Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer.” He highlighted that chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of lung cancer treatment, while immunotherapy has significantly improved survival outcomes for patients with advanced disease. The combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy is fast becoming the mainstream approach in clinical practice. Under the guidance of precision medicine, he noted, biomarker testing is essential for selecting the most appropriate treatment regimen.

Prof. Quan Zhu followed with a detailed presentation on “Lung Segmentectomy.” Addressing the limitations of traditional segmentectomy for tumors in special locations — such as nodules that span pulmonary segments or are situated deep near the lung hilum or major blood vessels — Prof. Zhu’s talk went beyond single-segment resection models. By using advanced anatomical reconstruction techniques, he demonstrated how to achieve more precise tumor removal while preserving lung function, thus overcoming some of the challenges posed by complex tumor locations.

From Germany, Prof. Thorsten Walles delivered a talk titled “The Magdeburg Model: Comprehensive Thoracic Surgery at 2 Hospital Sites.” He shared Germany’s advanced experience in building an integrated thoracic surgery service network. The Department of Thoracic Surgery at University Hospital Magdeburg has developed an efficient, collaborative system by combining the resources of the main university hospital campus and a partner teaching hospital. This integration addresses issues such as uneven distribution of specialists and low referral efficiency for complex cases. The Magdeburg model — centered on the principle of “homogenized care with differentiated responsibilities” — has become a paradigm for optimized thoracic surgery resource management in Europe.

These expert presentations sparked lively discussions among the Chinese and international participants on topics including technological innovation in thoracic surgery and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Event Conclusion

The “NeoSilk Path” International Surgical Exchange Program in Thoracic Surgery has been a milestone event in global thoracic surgery collaboration. Through in-depth technical exchange and a vibrant collision of ideas, it has injected new momentum into innovation in the field of thoracic surgery worldwide. The visiting overseas experts highly praised the achievements of Chinese thoracic surgery and expressed interest in exploring a greater diversity of collaboration in the future. These interactions have laid a solid foundation for the global development of precision thoracic surgical techniques. Bluesail Surgical will continue to serve as a bridge, working together with colleagues around the world to create a new paradigm for academic exchange in thoracic surgery.

Bluesail Surgical remains open and eager to forge even closer partnerships with medical experts across the globe. We firmly believe that through deep international exchange and cooperation, we can collectively explore the latest advancements, address emerging challenges, and chart the course for future developments in thoracic surgery. Such collaboration will help drive the continuous progress of the global surgical community.

The “NeoSilk Path” represents not only our respect for the ancient Silk Road that historically fostered East–West exchange, but also embodies a shared vision of future cooperation, mutual benefit, and coordinated development. Embracing the wave of globalization, Bluesail Surgical is committed to building strong alliances with medical professionals worldwide. Through platforms like this international exchange program, we hope to jointly delve into cutting-edge topics and challenges in thoracic surgery, thereby propelling the ongoing advancement and prosperity of surgical science globally.

We are confident that, through our joint efforts and relentless exploration, we can pave a “NeoSilk Path” of mutual benefit in global healthcare and make meaningful contributions to the health and well-being of humanity. The journey continues – we eagerly anticipate the next stop on the “NeoSilk Path” international exchange series.