The “IHPBA-APHPBA clinical practice guidelines’: International Delphi consensus recommendations for gallbladder cancer” were developed by 45 global experts organized by the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) and the Asia Pacific Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (APHPBA) using the Delphi consensus method. The objective of these guidelines is to provide unified standards for clinical practice in gallbladder cancer. The guidelines focus on controversial issues on surgical treatment, the standardization of terminology, and resectability assessment, while comparing these recommendations to existing guidelines both domestically and internationally. Among the high-risk factors for gallbladder cancer, the consensus emphasizes the roles of dietary factors, environmental pollutants, and cholelithiasis, but clearly states that gallbladder adenomyomatosis is not a risk factor, which differs from domestic guidelines. For asymptomatic cholelithiasis patients, the consensus does not support prophylactic cholecystectomy to reduce the risk of gallbladder cancer, whereas domestic guidelines suggest elective surgery for high-risk patients. The treatment standards for gallbladder polyps are consistent with domestic guidelines: polyps with a diameter ≥1 cm should be removed; those ≥2 cm or with suspicious characteristics should undergo preoperative CT examination. Regarding pathological examination, the consensus recommends routine pathological examination for all gallbladder resection specimens to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis. In terms of surgical nomenclature and scope, radical cholecystectomy is defined as hepatectomy combined with lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament; extended radical cholecystectomy includes extensive hepatectomy and resection of extrahepatic organs or vessels. For incidental gallbladder cancer, patients with T1a stage can be observed, while those with T1b stage should undergo further surgery, but this decision should be based on the patient’s overall health condition. The extent of liver resection is determined by staging: wedge resection can be performed for T2 stage, while for T3 stage, there is a divergence between wedge resection and liver resection of the Ⅳb-Ⅴ segments. For lymphadenectomy, the consensus reached global agreement for the first time: patients with T1b stage and above should undergo standard D2 lymphadenectomy (No.8, No.12, No.13a lymph nodes), and if there is metastasis to the lymph nodes around the abdominal aorta (No.16b1), it is considered distant metastasis and surgery should be abandoned. Minimally invasive surgery is only recommended for early-stage cases, and routine use in advanced gallbladder cancer is not recommended. The consensus also introduces for the first time the evaluation criteria for borderline resectable/locally advanced gallbladder cancer (BR/LA-GBC), including hilar obstruction, lymph node metastasis, or vascular invasion. PET/CT is recommended for staging in locally advanced cases and for assessing response to neoadjuvant therapy. For metastatic cases, the consensus recommends palliative chemotherapy and palliative surgery should only be considered when necessary. These guidelines promote the standardization of gallbladder cancer management by regulating surgical treatment processes and definitions. However, due to regional healthcare differences, some recommendations should be applied flexibly in practice.

Japanese Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer Treatment (2024 Edition) were officially released in July 2024. Building upon the core content of the 2022 edition, the new guidelines incorporate necessary revisions and optimizations across multiple areas, including endoscopic treatment, surgical procedures, pharmacotherapy, and radiotherapy. The guidelines notably update the staging and treatment strategies for colorectal cancer and adjust novel therapeutic approaches for colorectal cancer with high microsatellite instability and BRAF gene mutations to better reflect the latest research advancements. In terms of treatment strategy, the guidelines encompass the most recent recommendations for both early colorectal cancer (Stage 0-Ⅲ) and advanced colorectal cancer (Stage Ⅳ), emphasizing precision and individualized therapy. In addition, the guidelines have updated the indications for total neoadjuvant therapy and non-operative management in rectal cancer, and have introduced particle radiotherapy as a treatment option for refractory recurrent rectal cancer. Regarding the treatment of Stage Ⅳ colorectal cancer, the guidelines revise the treatment strategies for hematogenous metastases, recommending radical resection when feasible, and incorporating radiotherapy ablation and stereotactic body radiotherapy as treatment options. The pharmacotherapy section updates targeted therapy regimens for unresectable or recurrent colorectal cancer.  Furthermore, the guidelines adjust immunotherapy indications for colorectal cancer with mismatch repair deficiency and high tumor mutation burden, recommending pembrolizumab as the primary treatment option. In the radiotherapy section, a comparison between preoperative and postoperative chemoradiotherapy is introduced, and indications for preoperative radiotherapy are optimized to reduce the risk of local recurrence. Additionally, for recurrent colorectal cancer, the guidelines update strategies for combining local and systemic treatments, offering more detailed recommendations for managing local recurrence of rectal cancer and distant metastatic lesions. 

With the global incidence rate of thyroid cancer rising year by year，many guidelines have been issued and updated at home and abroad to standardize the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer.After the release of the first and second editions of the“Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Tumors”in October 2010 and December 2018，Japan officially released the third edition of the guidelines in April 2024.The Japanese guidelines raise questions based on their own clinical practice and make recommendations based on their own evidence-based medicine，which is worth learning from and emulating.The recommendations for surgical treatment in the new version of the guidelines are more refined，surgical strategies tend to be conservative，and there is a greater emphasis on surgical safety management and functional protection.

Surgical treatment is the most effective treatment for gallbladder cancer (GBC), but advanced GBC has a high rate of tumor recurrence and poor prognosis after surgery. Perineural invasion (PNI) is a critical event in the early stages of invasive GBC progression and an important unfavorable factor affecting the outcome of surgical treatment for advanced GBC. Improving the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis of PNI to formulate and implement individualized surgical plans, achieving the thoroughness of clearing the risk area of hidden residual cancer cells, and adopting postoperative multimodal treatment strategies such as adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy are of great significance in reducing the risk of tumor recurrence associated with PNI and improving the overall outcome of surgical treatment for advanced GBC. The establishment of intelligent diagnostic models based on PNI biomarkers, multimodal data (including anatomic, functional and metabolic data) from high-field intensity MRI, radiomics data, and artificial intelligence technology, as well as the conduct of clinical studies (such as rational tumor resection and regional clearance scope based on intraoperative fluorescent tracing and perioperative radiotherapy combined with targeted or immunotherapy) will provide evidence for the construction of an individualized multi-modal diagnostic and treatment plan for advanced GBC.

On March 15th 2025, the Japan Gastric Cancer Association released the 7th edition of Japanese Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines. New clinical questions were raised and updated in laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer, functional preservation surgery and extended surgery, perioperative chemotherapy, chemotherapy based on biomarkers, long-term complications after gastrectomy, treatment strategies for the elderly and palliative treatment methods. In particular, the recommendation of laparoscopic total gastrectomy and minimally invasive surgery for esophagogastric junction cancer has been further clarified and improved. In terms of function preserving gastrectomy, a new surgical method of subtotal gastrectomy has been proposed. However, there is still a lack of clear recommendations in perioperative treatment and conversion therapy. From the application of biomarker detection means and the emergence of new targeted drugs, to the attention to the strategies of surgical, endoscopic and chemotherapy protocols for elderly patients with gastric cancer, all reflect the ideas of accurate diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer and individualized treatment, while the attention paid to postoperative long-term complications indicates the pursuit of long-term survival and quality of life for patients.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors（GEP-NETs）exhibit significant heterogeneity and complex prognostic factors，presenting a longstanding challenge in standardizing treatment to improve long-term patient survival.The American Joint Committee on Cancer（AJCC）implemented the 9th edition of the staging system for GEP-NETs in January 2024.Compared to the previous edition，the new system includes several updates：further staging for Nx tumors of the stomach，duodenum/ampulla，appendix，and colon/rectum；emphasize of the importance of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment；emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of PPI-related gastric neuroendocrine tumors；and updates on certain diagnostic markers and prognostic factors.Overall，the staging system is becoming more precise and comprehensive.The AJCC staging system holds authoritative influence worldwide，and it is anticipated that future evidence-based medical research will further standardize the treatments of GEP-NETs.

Recurrent hiatal hernia (HH) after initial repair remains a high recurrence rates and its reoperation requires personalized strategies integrating anatomical, technical, and patient-specific factors. Key recurrence mechanisms include collagen metabolism dysfunction, excessive suture tension, and suboptimal mesh selection, compounded by obesity, advanced age, and Barrett's esophagus. Indications for reoperation include refractory symptoms (GERD-HRQL score ≥20), large hernia volume (>500 cm³), or acute complications (e.g., gastric volvulus). Technical advancements such as biosynthetic mesh (e.g., P4HB) and robotic-assisted surgery reduce recurrence rates to 4.8%, while keyhole-shaped mesh lowers recurrence risk by 50% compared to U-shaped configurations. Postoperative management emphasizes imaging surveillance (annual CT) and lifestyle modifications (weight control, smoking cessation), cutting secondary recurrence. Future innovations include smart meshes, genetic biomarkers, and AI-driven surgical planning, though multicenter trials are needed to validate long-term outcomes.

In recent years, various guidelines and consensus have provided new comments into the treatment strategies for recurrent inguinal hernia. International guidelines recommend avoiding the previous approach and emphasize the importance of preventing recurrence. Various domestic guidelines and consensus in China have proposed more targeted treatment strategies for different groups, while emphasizing individualized treatment strategies based on surgeons’ experience and patients’ conditions. In the future, with the development of laparoscopic technology and repair materials, the prevention and treatment strategies for recurrent inguinal hernia will continue to evolve.

The acceleration of aging has made frailty a key factor influencing the prognosis of elderly surgical patients.The frailty significantly increaes the risk of postoperative complications, mortality, and adverse discharge outcomes. Therefore, identifying and assessing frailty during the perioperative period is crucial. Commonly used frailty assessment tools include the fried frailty phenotype, frailty index, clinical frailty scale, and comprehensive geriatric assessment. However, due to the complexity of these assessments and the lack of standardized criteria, their clinical application rate remains low. A "two-step screening" strategy using the geriatric screening tool-8 followed by the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment enables efficient and thorough evaluation of high-risk patients, facilitating precisely targeted interventions. Advances in artificial intelligence and molecular biology provide new opportunities for automating and personalizing frailty assessment, which could promote standardized application of frailty evaluation, further optimize the management of elderly surgical patients, and improve postoperative quality of life.

Postoperative hernia recurrence remains a significant challenge, influenced by multidimensional factors including patient-specific characteristics, surgical techniques, mesh materials, and perioperative management. Patient-specific factors such as obesity, and smoking elevate recurrence risk through metabolic dysfunction and impaired tissue repair, necessitating preoperative weight loss, glycemic control, and smoking cessation. Technical factors emphasize fascial closure integrity and mesh selection in contaminated environments. Material science highlights optimal mesh sizing, drug-loaded coatings, and biomechanical compatibility. Perioperative management includes prehabilitation and digital recurrence prediction systems. Future directions require integrating multidimensional strategies for personalized therapy to minimize recurrence risk.

Parastomal hernia (PSH) is one of the challenges in hernia surgery, and the treatment of recurrent PSH is even more challenging, with different approaches from those for primary PSH. Risk factors for recurrent PSH include advanced age, obesity, immunosuppression, increased intra-abdominal pressure, and postoperative wound infection. Preoperative CT assessment should be completed, and the possibility of stoma repositioning or relocation should be considered. The surgical difficulty of recurrent PSH is greater, with more complications, and the surgical methods are uncertain. It is recommended that individualized surgical plans be developed by hernia specialists based on the patient’s previous repair method, comorbidities, and physical condition.

The treatment of obesity combined with recurrent ventral hernia (RVH) is a major challenge in clinical practice. Understanding the physiological characteristics of RVH in obesity patients and developing an appropriate recurrent ventral hernia repair (RVHR) strategy based on accurate preoperative evaluation and adequate preoperative preparation (including weight loss) are of great significance for improving the effectiveness of RVHR and reducing the risk of complications. The complexity of RVHR in obesity patients determines that it should be carried out by experienced hernia and abdominal wall surgeon teams. The application of new technologies and mesh will provide important help in further optimizing the results of RVHR in the near future.

Liver transplantation has become a routine treatment for end-stage liver disease. The shortage of donors has prompted the application of living liver transplantation. After more than 20 years of development, as one of the vital ways to expand the donor pool, the living donor liver transplantation technique has become more mature in China. Compared with classical liver transplantation, living donor liver transplantation is more complex, the surgical team should be more meticulous during preoperative evaluation and recipients’ operation to ensure the safety of the perioperative period. In addition, a better postoperative management system is also needed to improve the health-related quality of life of the donor and recipient. The authors intend to discuss the evaluation of donors and recipients, surgical technology development, and improvement of the health-related quality of life in donors and recipients after surgery.

Enterocutaneous fistula is a common complication following gastrointestinal surgery, with a high mortality rate. Its occurrence typically results from the leakage of digestive fluids, leading to intra-abdominal infections, sepsis, multiple organ failure, and other severe complications. The pathophysiological characteristics of enterocutaneous fistula are closely related to its treatment. Based on different pathophysiological changes, enterocutaneous fistula can be classified into critical and stable types. Critical enterocutaneous fistulas typically occur in the early stages of the disease and have a higher mortality rate, while stable enterocutaneous fistulas refer to those in which the condition has been initially controlled, primarily facing issues such as fluid loss. The occurrence of enterocutaneous fistula can also trigger a series of complications, including increased intra-abdominal pressure, pulmonary infections, and renal failure. Early detection is crucial for the diagnosis of enterocutaneous fistula. Direct signs, such as the leakage of digestive fluids and changes in symptoms of intra-abdominal infection, as well as indirect signs like digestive enzyme corrosion, can all serve as diagnostic criteria. The timeliness of diagnosis plays a decisive role in formulating an effective treatment plan, which can significantly reduce the mortality rate. With the continuous advancement of endoscopic technology, treatment methods for enterocutaneous fistula have become more diverse. New techniques, such as endoscopic negative pressure therapy and mucosal debridement, provide more possibilities for the self-healing of the fistula. In terms of treatment, the management of enterocutaneous fistulas requires a staged approach. In the critical phase, the primary goal should be lifesaving, utilizing comprehensive measures such as fluid management, anti-infection therapy, and infection source control. As the condition stabilizes, the focus of treatment shifts to promote self-healing, reduce the need for surgical intervention, and provide nutritional support and pre-rehabilitation therapy. Although staged treatment strategies have shown preliminary success in practice, the treatment of enterocutaneous fistulas still faces many challenges, particularly in terms of personalized treatment and long-term management. Future research should further explore the pathophysiological characteristics of enterocutaneous fistulas and optimize treatment plans to achieve higher cure rates and better patient outcomes.

Intestinal fistulas are a common complication of Crohn’s disease (CD) and can lead to severe conditions such as intra-abdominal infections, sepsis, and necrotizing fasciitis, with a complex treatment process and a high mortality rate. CD-related intestinal fistulas are of various types and are typically classified into two major categories, enteroenteric and enterocutaneous fistulas, in clinical practice. In addition to the general pathophysiological characteristics of intestinal fistulas, CD-related fistulas are often associated with intestinal inflammation, malnutrition, and the side effects of therapeutic drugs, which complicate clinical management. With the development of novel drugs such as biologics and other advanced technologies, non-surgical treatment options for CD-related fistulas are emerging. However, surgical treatment remains the mainstay of therapy. A comprehensive treatment approach combining medical and surgical strategies, along with thorough disease assessment and prehabilitation, is essential to formulate the optimal treatment plan and maximize patient benefits.

Celiac axis stenosis (CAS) is one of the risk factors for severe complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). CAS is significantly associated with complications such as pancreatic fistula, bile leakage, hepatic ischemia, and delayed gastric emptying, and may increase perioperative mortality. The diagnosis of CAS primarily relies on CT, MRI or angiography, with a stenosis >50% confirming the diagnosis. Its etiology is categorized into extraluminal compression (e.g., median arcuate ligament compression) and intraluminal lesions (e.g., atherosclerotic plaques). As the aging population increases, the proportion of CAS related to atherosclerosis has significantly risen. Notably, CAS is often coexistent with superior mesenteric artery (SMA) stenosis, where collateral circulation relies on the blood vessels in the pancreatic head region (e.g., gastroduodenal artery, GDA) to maintain blood supply to the celiac artery. During PD, transection of the GDA disrupts the collateral circulation, leading to ischemia of the liver, spleen, and remnant pancreas, thereby causing severe complications. Management strategies for CAS should be individualized. Preoperative imaging evaluation should focus on signs of narrowing at the celiac artery origin and abnormal vasculature in the pancreatic head region. For CAS caused by arterial plaques, endovascular stent placement or balloon dilation may be considered; for median arcuate ligament compression, ligament release surgery should be performed intraoperatively. If CAS is discovered intraoperatively, the GDA may be preserved or vascular reconstruction (such as celiac artery reimplantation) may be performed. For cases where the GDA cannot be preserved, postoperative vigilance for liver, spleen, and remnant pancreas is crucial, with timely vascular intervention if needed. Although some cases have been reported to recover without intervention, multivariate analysis indicates that severe CAS is an independent risk factor for postoperative hepatic hypoperfusion and pancreatic fistula. With the increasing proportion of elderly individuals in China, the number of pancreatic disease patients concomitant with CAS is expected to rise. Pancreatic surgeons should strengthen preoperative imaging assessments, identify CAS early, and develop intervention strategies to reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Multidisciplinary collaboration and the establishment of standardized treatment protocols are crucial directions for optimizing outcomes in these patients in the future.

With the increase in life expectancy of human beings, the number of patients with chronic diseases and end-stage organ failure is growing. Organ transplantation, which is considered as an effective treatment, is limited by the severe shortage of donor organs. In this context, xenotransplantation emerges as a promising alternative therapy, showing great potential to meet the pressing demand of donor organs, tissues and cells. Owing to the development of the relevant theories and technologies such as gene editing, immunosuppression and organ preservation, the feasibility of clinical xenotransplantation is increasing. Nevertheless, the clinical application of xenotransplantation is still in the preliminary stage of exploration. 

Intestinal fistula, a formidable complication in the late stage of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), significantly elevates mortality through mechanisms including intra-abdominal infection induction, exacerbation of homeostatic imbalances, and increased nutritional risk. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial, involving mechanical compression/enzymatic erosion by peripancreatic necrotic tissues, intestinal ischemia and iatrogenic injury from invasive interventions. Early diagnosis requires a heightened clinical awareness and the judicious use of diagnostic modalities, including computed tomography (CT), fistulography, and endoscopy, to delineate the anatomical location of the fistula. Surgical management adheres to a staged therapeutic paradigm: during the conservative treatment phase, infection source control remains the cornerstone, supplemented by enteral nutrition, organ function support, and other adjunctive measures to promote spontaneous fistula closure; in the definitive surgical phase, the therapeutic approach is dictated by the anatomical location of the fistula, with conservative management prioritized for upper gastrointestinal fistulas, such as those involving the stomach and duodenum, and more aggressive surgical intervention for colonic fistulas.

Intestinal fistula is a catastrophic complication after incisional hernia repair. Patients are often accompanied by abdominal wall and abdominal cavity infections of varying degrees, and subsequent sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and septic shock seriously threaten the safety of patients. Different from the conventional treatment of intestinal fistula, the artificial mesh retained in incisional hernia repair increases the difficulty of the subsequent management of intestinal fistula. Abdominal infection caused by intestinal fistula is the initial factor of high mortality. Early diagnosis and timely and effective surgical intervention are the key to reducing the mortality of patients. The management of intestinal fistula after incisional hernia is complicated and challenging. The stepped treatment strategy based on the concept of damage control surgery (DCS) combined with the pathophysiological characteristics of intestinal fistula provides an important idea for the treatment of intestinal fistula after incisional hernia.

To explore the efficacy and safety of applying immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with surgery in patients with stage Ⅳ gastric cancer or esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma. Methods    The clinical data of 112 patients with gastric cancer or esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma who were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors before surgery at 5 centers in Shanghai between May 2021 and August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The study cohort comprised 43 patients with stage cⅣA and 69 patients with stage cⅣB. All patients received immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed cell death-1. Chemotherapy regimens mainly included SOX, XELOX regimen,  etc. Targeted therapeutic drugs include trastuzumab and apatinib. Observation indicators include treatment-related adverse events, operation conditions and operation-related complications, the short-term efficacy, and the prognosis. Results    In the whole group of 112 patients, the main treatment-related adverse events were bone marrow suppression and fatigue, among which grade Ⅲ and above adverse events accounted for 30.4% (34/112), and the main immune-related adverse events were rash and hypothyroidism with an incidence of immune-related adverse events was 19.6% (22/112). The median treatment period before surgery was 4 (4,6) , and the R0 resection rate reached 82.1% (92/112). The incidence of surgery-related complications was 14.3% (16/112), mainly including anastomotic leakage and chylous leakage. There were 13 cases with grade Ⅰ to Ⅱ complications (11.6%), 3 cases with grade Ⅲ complications (2.7%), and no case with grade Ⅳ or above complications. In the whole group, ORR was 79.5% (89/112), pCR rate was 20.5% (22/112), and MPR  rate was 44.6% (50/112). The median follow-up time of the whole group was 22.6 (95%CI 19.8-25.4) month, the median overall survival (OS) was 37.3 (95%CI 20.6-54.0) months, and the median progression free survival (PFS) was 22.5  (95%CI 15.8-29.2) months. The 1- and 2-year OS rates were 86.6% and 65.0%. The 1- and 2-year PFS rates were 73.2% and 44.9%. Conclusion    For patients with stage Ⅳ gastric cancer or adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction, preoperative application of immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with surgery has a good therapeutic effect and prognosis. The incidence of treatment-related adverse reactions and surgery-related complications are acceptable.

In February 2024, the National Cancer Center (NCC) published Interpretation of cancer incidence and mortality in China, 2022, which was measured based on the latest national cancer registry and follow-up surveillance data. The data is consistent with the Chinese data from GLOBOCAN 2022, which was released at the same time by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The article was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Center and reported on the incidence and death of cancer and their trends in China in 2022.