A Brazilian Doctor Told Him: 'Go to Shanghai — That's Where the Best Surgeons Are'
Mr. Lin had lived in Brazil for over two decades. At 52, he noticed his skin and eyes turning yellow, his urine dark as strong tea, and weight falling off him despite eating normally.
The diagnosis came fast: a mass in the head of his pancreas. His Brazilian surgeon, Dr. Marconi, was direct: “You need surgery immediately. But for this kind of operation — a pancreaticoduodenectomy — I’d recommend going to China. Specifically, Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai. Their robotic pancreatic surgery experience is among the best in the world.”
The Doctor Who Sent Him Home
This wasn’t a casual suggestion. Dr. Marconi, a practicing surgeon in Brazil, specifically named Ruijin Hospital and its robotic surgery program. In modern medicine, when a surgeon in one country tells a patient to fly to another, it means something.
Mr. Lin contacted Dr. Jin Jiabin (金佳斌), Chief Physician and Director of Pancreatic Surgery Ward 2 at Ruijin Hospital, through an online consultation. After reviewing the imaging remotely, Dr. Jin outlined a preliminary treatment plan. Mr. Lin booked his flight.
The Surgery: Conquering the “Everest of Surgery”
The Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy) is widely considered one of the most complex operations in all of surgery. It requires:
- Precise removal of the pancreatic head
- Simultaneous removal of the duodenum, gallbladder, common bile duct, and part of the stomach
- Three separate anastomoses (reconnections): pancreatic-jejunostomy, hepaticojejunostomy, and gastrojejunostomy
Mr. Lin’s tumor had already invaded the common bile duct, making the case higher risk.
Dr. Jin performed the procedure using the Da Vinci robotic surgical system — minimally invasive, with small incisions, less bleeding, and faster recovery than traditional open surgery. During the operation, the team meticulously separated the tumor from adherent blood vessels, performed lymph node dissection, and reconstructed the digestive tract.
The surgery was a success. No pancreatic fistula — the most feared complication — occurred.
Connecting Two Continents: The Video Consultation
What happened next illustrates Ruijin’s international approach to care.
Before discharge, Prof. Shen Baiyong (沈柏用), Vice President of Ruijin Hospital and Director of the Pancreatic Disease Center, arranged a video call with Dr. Marconi in Brazil. During the consultation, Prof. Shen explained the treatment plan in detail: the surgical findings, the pathology results, the recommended adjuvant chemotherapy protocol, and even mentioned that mRNA vaccines, cell therapies, and new targeted drugs are already in clinical trials at Ruijin.
Dr. Marconi’s response: “Ruijin’s comprehensive treatment model is remarkable. This is something we can learn from.”
For Mr. Lin, this cross-Pacific coordination was the most reassuring part: “Ruijin made me feel completely at ease. From admission to discharge, I barely had to worry about logistics.”
Why Ruijin?
The numbers tell the story:
- 30,000+ cumulative pancreatic cancer cases treated — the largest in the world
- 2,000+ complex pancreatic surgeries per year
- 3,000+ Da Vinci robotic pancreatic surgeries completed
- 21.2% five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer (global average: 9–12%)
- 35.3% five-year survival for Stage I patients — a world benchmark
Ruijin also operates an International Medical Department specifically for overseas patients, offering:
- Full-process green channel: pre-op evaluation → multidisciplinary consultation → surgery → post-op recovery
- Direct billing with international commercial insurance
- English-speaking medical coordinators
- Remote follow-up with your home-country physician
Mr. Lin’s Message
Before leaving the hospital, Mr. Lin took a photo with Prof. Shen’s team. His words:
“I want to bring this photo back to Brazil and tell more overseas Chinese: no matter how far you’ve traveled, no matter how difficult the disease, the motherland always has the best doctors waiting for you.”
Is This Path Right for You?
Mr. Lin’s story resonates because it involves a decision many overseas Chinese — and increasingly, non-Chinese patients — face: when diagnosed with a serious illness abroad, should you fly home for treatment?
The answer depends on your specific situation, but the data supports considering Shanghai when:
- Your local surgeon recommends it (as Dr. Marconi did)
- You have a resectable pancreatic tumor
- You want robotic/minimally invasive surgery with experienced teams
- Cost is a factor (Ruijin’s robotic Whipple costs a fraction of US/European equivalents)
- You value comprehensive care including video coordination with your local doctor
Mr. Lin’s name has been changed at his request. His medical details are shared with permission. This article is based on publicly available information from Ruijin Hospital and does not constitute medical advice.
Last updated: May 2026.