Gynecology

Founded in 1943, the Department of Gynecology at the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China has a proud history spanning 81 years. Renowned for its superb clinical skills, high-quality service,rigorous researchteaching standards, it serves as the leading center for diagnosis, treatment,education in gynecologic diseases in southern Hunan.

In recent years, the number of outpatient visits, inpatient admissions,surgical procedures in the department have steadily increased. In 2021, the department recorded 117,000 outpatient visits—approximately 14.5% of which were from outside the region; admitted over 4,600 inpatients,performed more than 3,400 surgeries. That year, the department placed particular emphasis on two key disease categories: cervical cancerpelvic floor functional disorders. The department completed over 250 cervical cancer operations (with an estimated baseline of around 100)more than 150 pelvic floor surgeries, including sacral colpopexy, iliopectineal ligament suspension,transvaginal sacrospinous ligament suspension. Currently, the department has implemented a “three-tier” cervical cancer screening program in its outpatient services. TS testing (AI-assisted cervical cancer screening) delivers results in just three minutes, enabling early diagnosis, timely intervention,prompt treatment of cervical lesions. On August 7, 2020, Director Ma Yanher team achieved a milestone by performing Hengyang’s first fourth-generation Da Vinci robot–assisted laparoscopic total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy for a patient with uterine fibroids. This breakthrough marked the beginning of a new era in precise, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at the hospital. The department now offers the full range of gynecologic laparoscopic procedures—early-stage radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer, staging surgery for endometrial cancer, vaginal sacrocolpopexy, iliopectineal ligament suspension,laparoscopic hysterectomy for large uteri. These techniques minimize trauma, significantly shorten operative time,reduce intraoperative bleeding. Leveraging the Da Vinci robot’s precision, patients benefit from superior surgical outcomesaccess to world-class care right in their hometown. In October 2021, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China held the inauguration ceremony of its HIFU Treatment Center, marking a significant advancement in the department’s minimally invasive medicine capabilities. “Focused ultrasound ablation,” commonly known as “HIFU knife,” refers not to a blade but to the “High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Tumor Treatment System.” As of recently, our department has performed approximately 300 HIFU treatments covering conditions such as uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, cesarean scar pregnancy, abdominal wall endometriotic nodules,placenta accreta. This non-invasive, incision-free,bloodless procedure preserves the uterusdoes not affect normal hormonal function in women. It does not require general anesthesia—patients undergo the procedure under analgesiamild sedation. Treatment sessions are brief, enabling patients to get out of bed the same day, with hospital discharge typically on the following day. Intrauterine disorders are one of our key subspecialty areas, with a high surgical volumeexpertise in performing standardized surgeries for various Level-IV intrauterine conditions. We have extensive clinical experience in adhesiolysis (separation of intrauterine adhesions)promoting endometrial growth. In November 2021, the department was selected as a demonstration hospital for one of Hunan Province’s first specialist construction projects in the preventiontreatment of intrauterine diseases.

The Department of Gynecology at the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China serves as both a masters degree programa standardized residency training base. It currently has two master’s supervisors. The department undertakes clinical teaching for the University of South China’s postgraduate programs, as well as its five-year clinical undergraduate curricula in general medicine, oncology, preventive medicine,health inspection. It has trained over ten gynecology postgraduate students. In the 2021–2022 evaluation of “Advanced TeachingResearch Units,” our department was honored as an “Outstanding TeachingResearch Office.” In 2024, during the evaluation for “Advanced TeachingResearch Units,” it was recognized as an “Outstanding Standardized Residency Training Base.”

In recent years, the department has published over 50 papers in domesticinternational medical journals, including more than ten papers indexed by SCIover 40 in core domestic journals. The team has undertaken four projects funded by the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation, as well as more than ten projects at the provincial bureau level.

Obstetrics

The Department of Obstetrics is recognized as one of China’s first batch of “Baby-Friendly Hospitals”serves as the Maternal Critical Care Center for Hengyang, providing comprehensive maternity managementtreatment across the citysurrounding counties. The team excels in managing high-riskcomplex obstetric cases, with emergencycritical care capabilities at the forefront within the province.

The department is staffed by a highly skilledwell-qualified team of over 40 medicalnursing personnel, including 14 physicians23 midwives. Among the medical staff, 86% hold a master’s degreehigher, including two PhDssix professionals with senior titles. Annually, the department handles approximately 30,000 outpatient visitsnearly 3,000 inpatient admissions. The wards are spaciouscomfortable, offering 41 beds, including 20 deluxe suitessingle-family rooms. The delivery unit comprises five labor preparation beds, three delivery beds,one emergency operating room. It is equipped with a top-tier, family-centered birthing suite that allows family members to stay throughout labor. Pioneering within the province, the department offers aromatherapy massage, free-position labor, doula-supported delivery, painless (epidural) labor, hypnobirth, moderated perineal protection techniques, trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC),early neonatal care services—providing mothersinfants with a peaceful, supportive,warm birthing environment.

The obstetrics outpatient services currently include: general obstetrics, high-risk pregnancy, genetic counseling, early pregnancy care, midwife clinic, postpartum recovery,breastfeeding support.

Pediatrics

The Department of Pediatrics at the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China was established in 1956,in 2019 the Children’s Medical Center was founded. It serves as the deputy-chair unit of the Hunan Provincial Pediatrics for DevelopmentalBehavioral Sciences, the vice-chair unit of the Hunan Provincial Alliance for DiagnosisTreatment of Pediatric DifficultCritical Diseases, the deputy-chair unit of the Hunan Children’s Rehabilitation Alliance,the designated regional treatment center for pediatric leukemia under the Rural Cooperative Medical System in Hunan Province. The Children’s Medical Center is organizedsix main wards: general pediatrics, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), neonatal unit, pediatric wellnessrehabilitation ward, pediatric outpatientemergency department. It encompasses multiple subspecialties including pediatric respiratory, neurology, nephrology,hematology. The center currently employs 47 pediatricians (including four pursuing doctoral degrees under targeted training), 112 nurses,eight technicians. Among the physicians, 13 hold senior professional titles (five at senior levelseven at associate senior level), two hold PhDs,30 hold master’s degrees.

Clinical Highlights

The center is distinguished in managing complex pediatric respiratory diseases, precision treatment of childhood epilepsy,critical care. It performs video electroencephalography (vEEG), bronchoscopic foreign body removal, bronchial balloon dilation,bronchial biopsy. Other specialized treatments include continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), pediatric fiberoptic bronchoscopy, vEEG, neonatal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), neonatal synchronized exchange transfusion,the application of the BSR model in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Research Education

The Pediatrics TeachingResearch Office is responsible for undergraduatepostgraduate medical education at Hengyang Medical College, as well as clinical skills competition training. Over the past decade, it has received nearly ten educational reform grants from University of South China. Pediatrics is also a key rotation department for the national standardized residency training program.

The department has two master’s degree supervisors. In the past ten years, it has secured one general project from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, one project from the National Health Commission,nine provincial-level projects. It has published 12 SCI-indexed papers, including top-tier Q1 articles up to IF 9.685. The team has won a second prize from the Ministry of Education, a third prize in the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Awards,received 13 national inventionutility model patents.