Spina bifida and tethered spinal cord are congenital diseases that can lead to severe disability. At present, most doctors in relevant specialties in China still have insufficient understanding of spina bifida, resulting in high incidence and aggravation of its complications. To provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of spina bifida and tethered spinal cord in China, experts from neurosurgery, urology, orthopedics, spine surgery, and rehabilitation departments who have experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of spina bifida discussed and summarized their experiences, and referred to the relevant literature on the diagnosis and treatment of spina bifida at home and abroad. Expert consensus was formed in the following aspects: concept, classification, and pathological changes of spina bifida; diagnosis; treatment process and operation timing; principles and methods of treatment; rehabilitation; and follow up. This expert consensus can provide reference for relevant care providers of spina bifida in China.
Patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) is one of the most common causes of anterior knee pain in middle-aged and elderly population. In general, elementary therapy and drug therapy are the preferred choices for PFOA management. However, for those who cannot achieve satisfactory effectiveness with standard non-surgical treatment, surgical therapy stands as an alternative treatment. The surgical therapy includes repair surgery and reconstruction surgery. The choice of surgical plans for PFOA management mainly depends on the etiology, pathogenesis, location, and severity of the lesions. To aid clinical decision-making, the National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital) and the Joint Surgery Branch of the Chinese Orthopedic Association arranged nationwide orthopedic specialists to set up a work panel. After reviewing the research progress of surgical therapy and the latest guidelines and consensus for PFOA management, the work panel discussed repeatedly to reach this consensus. The present consensus aims to provide valid evidences for clinical practices of the surgical therapy of PFOA, so as to avoid inappropriate and irregular treatment behaviors, reduce surgical trauma, improve surgical efficacy and the quality of life, and to ease the burden of PFOA.
Metabolic and bariatric surgery has continued to evolve under the dual imperatives of efficacy and safety. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) with transit bipartition (SG-TB), derived from SG, reconstructs a “dual-channel” pathway that preserves the pylorus and proximal small-bowel function, while aiming to achieve metabolic effects comparable to biliopancreatic diversion with fewer severe nutritional complications. In 2025, the first Chinese expert consensus on SG-TB was released, and the inaugural international SG-TB consensus meeting was convened in Europe, reaching preliminary alignment on procedure classification, key technical parameters, and indications/contraindications. Emerging clinical evidence indicates that SG-TB confers advantages in weight reduction, remission of type 2 diabetes, and prevention of gastroesophageal reflux disease, and also demonstrates feasibility in revisional surgeries and complex cases. Nevertheless, current studies are predominantly observational, with limited evidence quality and considerable heterogeneity. Stratification of surgical parameters and establishment of reproducible training systems remain unmet needs. Building upon a synthesis of national and international consensus statements and recent clinical advances, this commentary further analyzes the challenges that SG-TB faces in procedural heterogeneity, evidence accumulation, individualized practice, and mechanistic research. This commentary seeks to offer practical reference and research directions for the bariatric community, ultimately supporting the advancement of SG-TB from a promising technique toward standardized and mainstream adoption.
ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of lymphadenectomy in different regions for esophageal squamous cell carcinomas located differently according to the lymph node grouping by Chinese expert consensus. MethodsThe medical records of 1 061 patients (886 males and 175 females with a median age of 60 (54, 65) years with esophageal cancer from March 2011 to December 2017 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. According to the pathological report, the lymph nodes were regrouped according to the Chinese lymph nodes grouping standard of esophageal cancer. The metastasis rate of each group of lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate of metastatic patients and efficacy index (EI) were calculated. ResultsThe upper thoracic esophageal cancer mainly metastasized to the lymph nodes of C201-203 groups. The middle and lower thoracic tumors mainly metastasized to the lymph nodes of C205-207 groups. The lower thoracic tumor had a higher rate of metastasis to the abdominal lymph nodes. According to the metastasis rate, the mediastinal lymph nodes were divided into three regions: an upper mediastinum (C201-204), a middle mediastinum (C205-206), and a lower mediastinum (C207-209). The EIs of lymph nodes of C201-203 and C205-207 groups were higher. For patients with C201-207 groups metastasis, the 5-year survival rates ranged from 13.39% to 21.60%. For patients with positive lymph nodes in each region, tumors at different primary locations had no statistical difference in long-term survival (P>0.05). Patients with lymph nodes of C205 group in the upper thoracic tumors had lower EI and those in the middle and lower thoracic tumors had higher EIs. ConclusionThe effect of lymph node dissection in each area varies with the location of the tumor. No matter where the tumor is, it is necessary to dissect the upper mediastinal lymph nodes, especially the lymph nodes adjacent to the left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves. Group C205 should be classified into the lower mediastinal lymph nodes.
The application of inpatient electronic medical records (EMRs) is a crucial component of modern healthcare informatization, and also a key factor in improving medical quality and safety. Establishing standardized EMRs for thoracic surgery helps to standardize treatment processes, improve medical efficiency, enhance quality of care, and better ensure patient safety. It also facilitates the collection and use of standardized and structured data, promoting clinical decision-making, the application of artificial intelligence, and the development of specialized clinical centers. Considering relevant national policies, information standards, clinical practice challenges and latest research findings in thoracic surgery EMRs, Chinese Association of Thoracic Surgeons, Cross-Strait Medicine Exchange Association’s Thoracic Surgery Professional Committee, WU Jieping Medical Foundation’s Lung Cancer Professional Committee, Zhejiang Provincial Thoracic Surgeons Associations and Fujian Provincial Thoracic Surgeons Associations have explored innovative paths for EMRs development. Through multiple rounds of professional discussions and research, the "Chinese expert consensus on quality control and management of electronic medical records for thoracic surgery (2024 version)" was formulated. It aims to provide a reference for the construction and application of inpatient EMRs for thoracic surgeons and information professionals across China, promoting continuous improvement in the informatization and medical standards of the thoracic surgery field, and contributing to the construction of "healthy China".
Surgical resection is the only radical method for the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Intraoperative frozen section (FS) has the advantages of high accuracy, wide applicability, few complications and real-time diagnosis of pulmonary nodules. It is one of the main means to guide surgical strategies for pulmonary nodules. Therefore, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and other databases for nearly 30 years of relevant literature and research data, held 3 conferences, and formulated this consensus by using the Delphi method. A total of 6 consensus contents were proposed: (1) Rapid intraoperative FS diagnosis of benign and malignant diseases; (2) Diagnosis of lung cancer types including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, others, etc; (3) Diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma infiltration degree; (4) Histological subtype diagnosis of invasive adenocarcinoma; (5) The treatment strategy of lung adenocarcinoma with inconsistent diagnosis on degree of invasion between intraoperative FS and postoperative paraffin diagnosis; (6) Intraoperative FS diagnosis of tumor spread through air space, visceral pleural invasion and lymphovascular invasion. Finally, we gave 11 recommendations in the above 6 consensus contents to provide a reference for diagnosis of pulmonary nodules and guiding surgical decision-making for peripheral non-small cell lung cancer using FS, and to further improve the level of individualized and precise diagnosis and treatment of early-stage lung cancer.
Clinical trials are the most reliable means for scientifically rigorous evaluation of the efficacy and safety of drugs, and are the most crucial part receiving the most investment in development and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry. In recent years, the nation has formulated a set of policies and guiding principles to encourage pharmaceutical innovation, promote the independent innovation of China’s pharmaceutical industry and enhance clinical trial capacity. To further improve Chinese researchers’ ability to perform clinical trials, the National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases invited a multi-disciplinary team of experts from various areas including clinical trial methodology and supervision to work on this consensus. In view of the common concern and puzzles regarding the issues in clinical trials, such as recruitment and retention of participants, outcome selection, quality control, information technology application, and ethics in data security, the expert consensus is based on domestic and international guidelines, the latest advancement of clinical research, and the advice and opinions from national experts. It aims to provide reference information and guidance for clinical trial researchers, and serves as a reference for relevant authorities to formulate clinical trial management policies.
In order to further improve the treatment level of rib, sternum, and lung trauma in China, and to provide patients with a comprehensive, safe, scientific, and standardized treatment model, we convened a meeting of outstanding thoracic surgery experts in the field of trauma in China to demonstrate and solicit opinions widely, and in accordance with the principle of evidence-based medicine, based on the best published Chinese and English evidence, finally formulated this consensus. This consensus aims to solve the possible problems in the treatment of lung, rib, and sternum trauma to the greatest extent, and provide scientific and standard clinical solutions for the treatment of thoracic surgery trauma.
Coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch are congenital anomalies affecting the aortic arch. Because of the poor natural prognosis, many patients will need early surgical repair or even emergency surgery. With the improvement of the surgical techniques, cardiopulmonary bypass techniques and perioperative intensive care, surgical mortality has now dramatically decreased. However, aortic arch restenosis, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and long-term hypertension are problems that may be still encountered during the follow-up period. By reviewing large amounts of literature and discussing among experts, we achieved a consensus on many aspects of the management strategy. We hope this consensus will help Chinese colleagues further improve the overall surgical outcomes of coarctation of aorta and interrupted aortic arch.