One-Port Approach to Beating Cancer: Single-Port 3D Laparoscopy Prevails in Complex Gastrectomy

The Gastrointestinal Surgery team at Peking University International Hospital (PKUIH) faced an extraordinary challenge: performing stomach cancer surgery on an international patient whose abdomen was, quite literally, tied up in knots. Fifty years earlier, the patient had undergone an old-fashioned open appendectomy. Over the decades, that earlier surgery left behind a web of dense internal scar tissue — adhesions — twisting the bowel like “tangled, gnarled roots of an ancient tree,” thus making surgery a challenge. 

The surgical procedure to treat this international patient’s stomach cancer is known as a radical distal gastrectomy, which involves removal of the lower part of the stomach (distal) along with lymph nodes and other surrounding tissues when required.

Because the peritoneal cavity, the space which contains most organs of the abdomen, was obscured by severe adhesions and distorted anatomy, the surgical team drew on their deep experience and refined skills. They employed the use of an advanced single-port 3D laparoscopic system for the minimally invasive procedure.

What is single-port 3D laparoscopy?

Traditional laparoscopy, often called keyhole surgery, uses several small cuts to insert a camera and instruments. Single-port surgery takes this even further: everything — high-definition 3D camera, delicate cutting and sealing tools — enters through just one tiny incision, typically hidden in the navel or along the belly’s natural crease. That means less pain, a nearly invisible scar, and a quicker recovery.

Surgeons operated through a tiny abdominal incision of only about 3 centimeters. Under stereoscopic, high-definition, magnified vision, they meticulously separated the dense adhesions and precisely performed the radical cancer resection and lymph node dissection. The single-port approach pushed minimally invasive surgery even further, ensuring an excellent cosmetic outcome, while the “3D” part was crucial. The 3D view restores depth perception; tissues layers stand out exactly as they would in open surgery, yet enables precision that minimizes the risk of collateral injury.

Despite the multiplied surgical difficulty, under effective teamwork, the entire procedure was completed smoothly with minimal blood loss and minimal trauma. The patient recovered rapidly, was able to get out of bed the very next day, and has now been discharged in good health.

This case represents more than a technical milestone for PKUIH’s minimally invasive surgical techniques in managing complex and challenging cases. We hold that technology, guided by passion, has the power to take away suffering and bring more patients back to full health.

Gastrointestinal Surgery
The Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, established by leading domestic experts, builds upon current capabilities while aligning with international professional advancements. It has developed a multidimensional treatment model featuring multiple pathways, approaches, and methodologies. Through high-level clinical diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, the department swiftly and safely alleviates suffering for patients.

The department treats a wide range of conditions, including gastric cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, as well as common surgical diseases such as thyroid tumors, abdominal wall hernias, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernias, and appendicitis.

The Gastrointestinal Surgery Department is proficient in comprehensive treatment for gastrointestinal malignancies, surgical treatment for liver metastases of colorectal cancer, laparoscopic surgery for abdominal wall and hiatal hernias, gastrointestinal stromal tumor surgery, laparoscopic thyroid surgery, parathyroid tumor surgery, metabolic weight loss surgery, and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for malignancies. 

The Gastrointestinal Surgery Department was among the first in China to introduce the multidisciplinary team (MDT) treatment model, bringing together experts from various disciplines to provide standardized and personalized care for patients. The department also offers specialized clinics including Hemorrhagic Stool/Defecation Disorder Clinic, Thyroid/Hernia Clinic, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Clinic, and Gastrointestinal Cancer (MDT) Clinic for convenient patient access.