Vascular Surgeon Performs Five Operations Across Three Hospitals in One Day
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Dr. Law Shun-man, a vascular surgeon in Hong Kong, has highlighted the challenges and demands of his specialty on Chinese Doctors' Day, revealing that he has performed up to five surgeries across three different hospitals in a single day. His dedication to the field extends beyond the operating room, as he established Hong Kong's first cross-disciplinary team specializing in diabetic foot treatment, offering combined debridement and revascularization procedures. A poignant case involved a 99-year-old patient who regained mobility after undergoing minimally invasive angioplasty, with the elderly woman embracing her therapist in tears of joy upon being able to walk again without excruciating pain.
Key Points
- Dr. Law Shun-man was born and raised in the United Kingdom before returning to Hong Kong to care for his aging parents
- He worked across three hospitals including Eastern Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, and Ruttonjee Hospital, completing five operations in one day
- Dr. Law founded Hong Kong's first diabetic foot cross-disciplinary team, integrating orthopedic surgeons, vascular surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, and podiatrists
- The team offers combined "two-in-one" surgery performing wound debridement and vascular procedures simultaneously
- A 99-year-old diabetic patient, who had been unable to walk for weeks due to pain, successfully underwent minimally invasive angioplasty and resumed walking
- Hong Kong currently has approximately only 50 specialized vascular surgeons, indicating severe manpower shortage
- Dr. Law conducts voluntary teaching sessions for medical students and interns during his personal time
Why It Matters
With Hong Kong's rapidly aging population and rising chronic disease prevalence, the demand for vascular surgery expertise will continue to grow. The specialty's severe staffing shortage—averaging just 50 practitioners citywide—threatens to overwhelm existing surgeons while limiting patient access to life-saving treatments for conditions like aortic aneurysms and diabetic foot complications .
With Hong Kong's rapidly aging population and rising chronic disease prevalence, the demand for vascular surgery expertise will continue to grow. The specialty's severe staffing shortage—averaging just 50 practitioners citywide—threatens to overwhelm existing surgeons while limiting patient access to life-saving treatments for conditions like aortic aneurysms and diabetic foot complications .