-Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital-

As minimally invasive surgical techniques continue to advance, gallbladder removal has gradually evolved from conventional multi-port laparoscopy to single-incision surgery. With a less visible incision, reduced postoperative pain, and faster recovery, single-incision surgery has become an important treatment option for patients with gallstones and other gallbladder diseases.

In recent years, Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital has actively advanced single-incision cholecystectomy. Its Division of General and Digestive Surgery has established a comprehensive and systematic treatment model that integrates well-established single-incision laparoscopic techniques with next-generation da Vinci single-port surgery. Based on each patient’s condition and individual needs, the team provides more precise and appropriate minimally invasive treatment options.

Hospital Secretary Wen-Lung Su stated that the team has long been dedicated to single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy and has performed more than 700 procedures to date. By continuously refining its surgical techniques and establishing standardized protocols, the team has achieved a high level of safety and consistency, enabling most patients to return to their daily activities soon after surgery.

Dr. Po-Hsuan Wu, Director of the Division of General and Digestive Surgery, noted that with advances in robotic surgery, the da Vinci system offers high-definition 3D visualization, flexible and precise instrument control, and fluorescence image-guided navigation. For patients with complex anatomy or those requiring highly precise surgical procedures, it provides another single-incision minimally invasive treatment option and demonstrates the hospital’s progress toward precision medicine.

Dr. Wu further explained that single-incision surgery is not a single standardized technique. Instead, the most appropriate treatment is tailored to each patient’s disease type, physical condition, and surgical needs. Kaohsiung Medical University Gangshan Hospital currently offers both well-established single-incision laparoscopic surgery and next-generation da Vinci robotic surgery. The hospital is committed to providing personalized medical care that balances safety, treatment effectiveness, and the quality of postoperative recovery.

Beyond gallbladder disease, the team is also expanding its expertise in surgeries involving the digestive system and hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers. By integrating minimally invasive techniques, precision medicine, and multidisciplinary collaboration, the hospital aims to establish a distinctive minimally invasive surgery center in southern Taiwan, allowing residents of northern Kaohsiung to receive high-quality medical care close to home.

Figure 1. Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Figure 2. The da Vinci surgical team from the Division of General and Digestive Surgery.