Shanghai Ruijin Hospital recently announced that its multidisciplinary team successfully completed a high-difficulty combined surgery for an endocrine tumor with a hematologic disorder. The patient recovered well postoperatively and has been transferred to a general ward. The surgery involved the simultaneous management of a pancreatic endocrine tumor and a myeloproliferative neoplasm, lasting 7 hours with blood loss controlled within 200 milliliters, setting a new record for such complex procedures at the hospital.
The surgery was jointly performed by the departments of endocrinology, hematology, general surgery, anesthesiology, and critical care medicine, utilizing intraoperative ultrasound navigation and autologous blood transfusion technology to precisely remove the tumor while protecting surrounding vital blood vessels and nerves. Postoperative pathology confirmed complete tumor resection, and blood parameters improved significantly, marking a new height for Ruijin Hospital in the complex interdisciplinary field of endocrine and hematologic disorders.
Background and Significance
When endocrine tumors coexist with hematologic diseases, traditional treatment requires staged procedures, but tumor progression or worsening of the hematologic condition often leads to missed treatment windows. Ruijin Hospital innovatively adopted a simultaneous surgery strategy, combined with preoperative multimodal imaging assessment and intraoperative real-time monitoring, effectively reducing the risks associated with staged surgery. This approach had no prior successful cases in East China, filling a regional technical gap.
As a National Clinical Research Center, Ruijin Hospital has been continuously advancing in comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases. The success of this surgery not only demonstrates the maturity of its multidisciplinary team (MDT) mechanism but also provides a replicable clinical pathway for similar rare cases. The relevant technical standards are expected to be promoted nationwide.
Significance for International Patients
For international patients, such high-difficulty surgeries typically require cross-border referrals, facing multiple barriers such as language, procedures, and costs. This breakthrough at Ruijin Hospital means that international patients no longer need to travel to Europe or the United States to receive equivalent surgical treatment in China. Additionally, the hospital offers one-stop services for international patients, including teleconsultation, visa assistance, language support, and postoperative follow-up, significantly reducing the coordination costs of cross-border medical care.
Moreover, the success of this surgery has strengthened confidence in China's complex surgical capabilities within the international medical community. For patients with endocrine tumors or hematologic diseases, especially those with multiple comorbidities, Ruijin Hospital provides a viable alternative.
How MedBridge Shanghai Can Help
MedBridge Shanghai, as a cross-border medical platform, has established a green channel collaboration with Ruijin Hospital, offering international patients services such as rapid appointment scheduling, case pre-review, and cost estimation. Through the cost estimator tool, patients can learn about surgical and hospitalization costs in advance, avoiding unexpected expenses. Additionally, MedBridge's medical services team will assist with medical visa processing, airport pickup arrangements, and translation, ensuring comprehensive support for patients before, during, and after surgery.
For such complex surgeries, MedBridge also provides dedicated case managers who coordinate multidisciplinary consultations and regularly update treatment plans for overseas family members. For further information about Ruijin Hospital or details on such surgeries, professional consultation is available through the contact us page.
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