The 2^nd “Latest Chest Wall Surgery Techniques Global Training Program”, co-organized by the Institute of Chest Wall Surgery (ICWS) and International Chest Wall Surgery Organization (ICWSO), was successfully held from July 16 to 19, 2025.

This workshop brought together 10 surgeons from Pakistan, Morocco, Romania, Taiwan(China), Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, India, and Armenia for an in-depth exploration of the cutting-edge diagnostic and surgical techniques for chest wall disorders.

Integrated Learning: From Theory to Operating Room

The training program encompasses theoretical lectures, model simulations, and surgical observation. During the theoretical lectures, Professor Wenlin Wang, Director of ICWS, along with his team members, provided detailed instruction on three innovative surgical techniques—the Wang procedure and the Wung procedure for pectus excavatum correction, and the Wenlin procedure for pectus carinatum treatment. They also demonstrated the surgical operation steps using models.

Unlike the traditional Nuss procedure, which requires the insertion of metal bars into the thoracic cavity, the Wang procedure achieves correction by placing a bar on the surface of the chest wall skeleton, thus effectively eliminating the risk of cardiac injury. The Wung procedure, while retaining the lever principle of the Nuss procedure, incorporates key technical improvements that significantly reduce the incidence of cardiac injury, bar displacement, and poor wound healing after surgery. In addition, Professor Wang also demonstrated the Wang technique, a bar fixation method he developed, which has been widely adopted in clinical practice. This technique not only simplifies the surgical process but also ensures better surgical outcomes.

83 Cases Cover All Chest Wall Deformities: Surgical Innovation Drives Clinical Breakthroughs

From the afternoon of July 16 to the morning of July 18, the ICWS team successfully completed a total of 83 chest wall deformity surgeries within three days, covering nearly all types of deformities. The surgical cases included not only common deformities like pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, and flat chest, but also less frequently encountered conditions such as barrel chest, Poland syndrome, and saddle chest, as well as exceptionally rare cases including Wenlin chest (2 cases) and secondary pectus excavatum following cardiac surgery (3 cases).

One particularly complex and high-risk case was 12-year-old patient Tantian (pseudonym). She underwent surgery for congenital heart disease at the age of 2, and subsequently suffered from recurrent chest wall infections, necessitating 12 additional operations. By age 11, she had developed a secondary sunken deformity on her right chest wall. Due to severe adhesions in her thoracic cavity from prior surgeries, the corrective surgery carried significant risks and challenges. Ultimately, the ICWS team successfully performed the operation using the Wung procedure, achieving excellent postoperative results.

The successful correction of chest wall deformities in 83 patients within just three days - including numerous complex cases - was primarily attributed to the application of innovative surgical techniques such as the Wung procedure. These techniques not only effectively reduced surgical risks but also significantly enhanced surgical efficiency. Meanwhile, the exceptional surgical expertise of the ICWS team and seamless interdisciplinary collaboration also provided critical support for the success of the surgeries.

Innovative and Simplified Chest Wall Surgical Approaches for Global Patient Benefits

This training not only showcased proficient surgical expertise but also allowed participants to personally experience the simplicity and efficacy of the innovative techniques. “When developing both the Wung procedure and the Wang procedure, my fundamental objective was to transform pectus excavatum correction into a safe and straightforward minor surgery, ” said Professor Wenlin Wang.

Professor Puja Gaur Khaitan from the United Arab Emirates remarked after observing multiple corrective surgeries for chest wall deformities: “What’s unique about his technique is that it is simple, reproducible, and teachable.”

Dr. Erick Eduardo from Mexico also exclaimed in admiration: “Dr. Wang makes the procedures look remarkably simple, yet the outcomes are outstanding. Also, I was amazed to learn that he treats approximately 1,000 patients every year—that’s truly extraordinary.”

In addition to significantly improving surgical safety and outcomes, another major advantage of the ICWS team’s innovative procedures lies in their streamlined procedural workflow and tubeless design (except for essential chest drainage). This not only substantially reduces operative duration and enhances overall efficiency but also lowers the technical barriers, enabling experienced surgeons to rapidly adopt these techniques in clinical practice. Ultimately, more patients worldwide will benefit from safer, more efficient, and more accessible treatment options.