Editor's note:

In response to the Belt and Road Initiative, and with the aim of sharing expertise and addressing shared health challenges, our hospital has launched the Overseas Promotion Program for New Medical Technologies. If you are interested in any of the medical technologies covered under this program, please feel free to contact the International Cooperation Office at faowch@163.com.

Background and Global Need

Obesity has become an escalating public health challenge across Belt and Road countries, especially in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.
Rapid urbanization, lifestyle changes, and limited access to advanced healthcare have driven sharp increases in obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and fatty liver disease.

Despite the proven benefits of bariatric surgery, its uptake in these regions remains low, hindered by:

• Insufficient surgical expertise and infrastructure;
• High costs associated with complex laparoscopic or robotic systems;
• Cultural preference for minimally visible surgical scars.

These factors highlight the need for affordable, standardized, and cosmetically acceptable surgical techniques that can be readily disseminated through international cooperation.

Technical Overview

Transumbilical Single-Port Sleeve Gastrectomy (SP-SG) represents an advanced form of minimally invasive bariatric surgery performed entirely through a single umbilical incision, resulting in virtually scarless outcomes.
At West China Hospital, Sichuan University, this technique has been refined and standardized through extensive clinical experience and the integration of a proprietary single-port trocar system specifically designed for sleeve gastrectomy.
This trocar system, an intellectual property of West China Hospital, features multiple ergonomic working channels, ensuring optimal visualization, instrument coordination, and intra-abdominal safety even through a single access point.

Clinical Application and Advantages

SP-SG has been safely and effectively implemented in a large cohort of patients, achieving outcomes equivalent or superior to multi-port laparoscopic approaches.
Its advantages include:

• Reduced trauma and faster recovery;
• Minimal postoperative pain and hospital stay;
• Nearly invisible scarring with high patient satisfaction;
• Reproducibility and lower equipment costs, suitable for resource-limited centers.

By integrating advanced ergonomics and procedural standardization, West China Hospital has made SP-SG technically accessible, safe, and teachable, bridging the gap between innovation and global applicability.

Conclusion

Through the refinement of transumbilical single-port sleeve gastrectomy, West China Hospital has established a reproducible, safe, and cosmetically superior bariatric technique. This achievement exemplifies China’s growing contribution to international surgical innovation and the hospital’s mission to advance equitable, high-quality obesity care across borders.