In December 2023, Professor Shu Chang from the Vascular Center of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University was invited to Thailand to host an overseas workshop on the endovascular treatment of aortic disease and perform surgeries at several hospitals. During this visit, he successfully implemented the integrated Castor branched aortic stent-graft system, the intellectual property of which belongs to China, marking its first application in Thailand.

Professor Shu was invited to perform two challenging aortic repair surgeries at Sarajia Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand’s largest hospital. One of the patients had undergone a covered stent repair for the aortic disease nine years ago, but new ruptures had developed at both the proximal and distal ends of the stent, elevating the high risk of further rupture and presenting an exceptionally challenging surgical scenario. During this operation, Professor Shu successfully repaired the distal and proximal ruptures by using the Castor branched aortic stent-graft system and Hercules2 stent developed in China, achieving satisfactory outcomes. In another case involving an abdominal aortic aneurysm patient, Professor Shu employed the Minos covered stent developed in China for minimally invasive endovascular treatment of the aneurysm. Both surgeries were successful, providing the patients with high-quality treatment results. Professor Shu’s adept surgical techniques received praise from the attending experts. Importantly, this marked the introduction of the Castor branched aortic stent-graft system, made in China, to the Thai market, gaining recognition at a national-level hospital in Thailand. The stent developed in China has garnered extensive attention from international experts due to its excellent performance and cost-effectiveness.

In Bangkok, Thailand, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital stands as one of the most esteemed teaching hospitals, widely known for its top-notch medical facilities and environment. Professor Shu was invited to hold an overseas workshop on the endovascular treatment of aortic disease at this hospital, during which he successfully performed two endovascular exclusion surgeries for aortic disease and delivered lectures and surgical demonstrations to over 60 experts from Thailand, South Korea, India and other countries. In the workshop, Professor Shu shared his experience and treatment philosophy for aortic disease with the attending experts. In the live-stream surgery, he intricately demonstrated the details and essentials of the surgery while giving detailed explanation. Professor Shu received a warm round of applause from the attending experts.

Currently, Professor Shu is actively engaged in international training on minimally invasive techniques for aortic disease. He has exchanged expertise with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, and signed memorandum of academic cooperation. He has also traveled to Vietnam, Russia and other countries to hold technical training courses, continuously increasing the global influence of vascular surgery experts in China.