▲ On January 21, medical staff from Kanazawa University Hospital in Japan (back row) observed a donor laparoscopic hepatectomy performed by Professor Ki-Hun Kim (front row, first from the right) of the Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgegry at Asan Medical Center.

Medical staff from the Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Transplantation/Pediatric Surgery at Kanazawa University Hospital in Japan visited Asan Medical Center on January 19 to learn advanced techniques in liver transplantation surgery.

The visit was arranged at the request of the Japanese medical team, who expressed interest in observing laparoscopic and minimal invasive surgical techniques that enhance donor safety. The liver transplantation team at Asan Medical Center, led by Professor Ki-Hun Kim of the Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgegry, has been continuously advanced donor laparoscopic hepatectomy techniques in liver transplantation.

Professor Shintaro Yagi, who observed surgeries over the three-day visit, said, “It was a valuable opportunity to learn high-level hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgical techniques, including laparoscopic donor hepatectomy that supports faster recovery for liver donors, as well as Asan Medical Center’s well organized multidisciplinary collaboration system.”