At an international workshop on gynecological endoscopic surgery on 15/1, doctor Tran Ngoc Hai, Director of Tu Du Hospital, stated that a significant shift in gynecological treatment methods has occurred. From 50% a decade ago, the rate of endoscopic surgery now holds an absolute advantage, accounting for over 75% of all surgical cases.
Doctor Le Ngoc Diep, Head of the Endoscopy Department, explained that the reason this technique has become the top choice lies in its direct benefits for patients. Compared to the long incisions of traditional open surgery, endoscopy is minimally invasive, helping patients minimize blood loss and infection risk. Patients experience less postoperative pain, significantly shortening hospital stays. Most women can be discharged after just two to three days of observation and quickly return to their daily routines.
In 2025, doctors performed over 17,500 gynecological surgeries, with more than 13,000 cases treated using endoscopy, averaging nearly 40 procedures daily. "This figure demonstrates that endoscopy is no longer an 'experimental' technique but has become a mainstream foundation in clinical practice," doctor Diep stated.
Beyond common ailments, doctors have expanded the scope of endoscopic surgery to manage complex cases. At Tu Du, surgical teams successfully removed large uterine fibroids equivalent to an 18-week fetus and managed ectopic pregnancies implanted in C-section scars up to 14 weeks old – cases previously considered major challenges. This technique also proves effective in treating gynecological cancers, pelvic floor dysfunction, and advanced fetal medicine interventions.
To meet the growing patient demand for safe and aesthetic treatment methods, human resource training is a priority. Doctor Hai noted that standardizing skills to international benchmarks remains a "bottleneck". Previously, very few doctors had access to structured training abroad. Therefore, the hospital recently launched the first endoscopic surgery training course in Vietnam following European standards (GESEA).
Istvan Argay, an expert from the European Society for Gynecological Endoscopy, stated that the GESEA program has issued over 7,000 certificates to surgeons worldwide and is expanding into many Asian countries. Vietnam's participation in this network, according to him, will enhance the quality of gynecological training and treatment.
According to experts, the rise of endoscopic surgery is not a loud "revolution" but the result of long-term accumulation in technology, human resources, and training. For patients, this change manifests in concrete benefits: less pain, faster recovery, and reduced complication risks. For the healthcare system, it represents a sustainable shift towards safer and more standardized treatment in women's health care.
Le Phuong
