러시아ㆍ유라시아

ObjectiveThe advent of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) in Mongolia has faced funding and accessibility challenges, leading to languid adoption. A Mongolian-Canadian collaboration was inaugurated to support the development of a self-sustainable, self-governed minimally invasive thoracic surgery (MITS) program in Mongolia.MethodsA multidisciplinary Canadian thoracic surgery team collaborated with the National Cancer Center of Mongolia (NCCM) Thoracic Surgery service from 2016-2023. The team engaged in patient rounds, MITS procedures and service education. Program and patient outcomes were reviewed.Results34 patients underwent MITS procedures as part of the Mongolian-Canadian collaboration. Median age was 51 years [range = 16-76], and 41% [14/34] were male. Lung, esophageal and mediastinal procedures composed 50% [17/34], 21% [7/34], and 21% [7/34] of procedures, respectively. Conversion rate, median operative time and hospital length of stay were 0%, 172.5 minutes and 8 days, respectively. The complication rate was 9% (3/34) with 3% (1/34) being Clavien-Dindo >3 requiring re-operation. 30-Day mortality was 0%. Mongolia’s thoracic surgery team progressed from surgical assists to primary operators and a self-governed program. In 2023, the NCCM’s thoracic surgery service independently conducted 72% (50/69) of esophagectomies and 91% (48/53) of pulmonary resections via minimally invasive technique compared to 0% in 2015.ConclusionsThe Mongolian-Canadian collaboration demonstrated successful transfer of MITS proficiency through global non-colonialist surgical partnership, consequentially shifting the national thoracic surgical paradigm. Continued collaboration will focus on sustainability and supporting local surgeons in regional dissemination of MITS proficiency with the aim of globalizing thoracic surgical excellence.