From August 20 to 21, Prof. Herth, the Medical Director of the Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg and Director of the Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, visited the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang as the visiting professor, conducting a two-day academic exchange activity. Prof. Herth is a leading expert in interventional pulmonology and minimally invasive endoscopic techniques in the global. He previously served as the president of European Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology(EABIP), and has long served as the editor-in-chief and core editorial board member for several leading international medical journals. In this visit, Prof. Herth and the team from the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, conducted an in-depth academic exchange around clinical practice, complex case, research development and talent cultivation.
Welcoming Ceremony
On the morning of August 20, after Prof. Herth arrived at the hospital, Prof. LI Chunhua, Director of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, together with his team, warmly welcomed Prof. Herth. Prof. Li introduced the development of the department and its major diagnostic and treatment technologies currently in use. Accompanied by Prof. Li, Prof. Herth then visited the department's three wards and toured the Bronchoscopy Room of the Endoscopy Center and the Imaging Center, including the Chest CT and AI platform for pulmonary nodule screening.
In the afternoon, Prof. Herth participated in a discussion of a case involving a young patient with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. The patient was receiving chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy but had developed drug-induced liver injury. Prof. Herth provided a detailed analysis of the case and shared his recommendations for the subsequent treatment strategy.
Prof. Herth then delivered an academic lecture on advances in interventional pulmonology. He introduced the development of bronchoscopy, sharing that in 1896, Gustav Killian from the University of Freiburg in Germany began experimenting with bronchoscopy. One year later, he successfully performed the world's first bronchoscopy, and in 1898, he publicly demonstrated the technique for the first time at an academic conference in Heidelberg. He further introduced the development of flexible bronchoscopy and advances in navigation technologies(robotic systems). He emphasized that, on the basis of accurate diagnosis, effective treatment approaches should also be actively developed. To this end, Prof. Herth introduced a variety of interventional pulmonology treatment techniques, including transbronchial microwave ablation, cryoablation, lung volume reduction procedures using valves or coils, and bronchoscopic thermal vapor ablation. He pointed out that patients with COPD will have an increasingly diverse range of treatment options in the future.
Following the lecture, the leadership of the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, together with representatives from the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and relevant administrative staff, held a welcoming ceremony for Prof. Herth. Both sides introduced their hospitals, and the hospital officially presented Prof. Herth with a certificate of appointment as Visiting Professor. The ceremony concluded with a group photo.
During the ceremony, Prof. Herth introduced the history and development of Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg. Founded in 1894, the hospital was originally a specialized hospital for tuberculosis. After many years of development, it has now become one of the largest lung centers in Europe, as well as a world-leading institution for the research, diagnosis, and treatment of lung diseases, providing comprehensive medical services in this field. Prof. Herth felt very honored to have the opportunity to exchange ideas with Chinese colleagues. He emphasized that only by maintaining an open mind and learning from and exchanging with one another can we achieve mutual progress. He also looked forward to welcoming more Chinese colleagues to Heidelberg in the future for academic exchange and learning.
Observation and Exchange on Endobronchial Ultrasound(EBUS)
On the morning of August 21, Prof. Herth visited the Bronchoscopy Room of the Endoscopy Center at the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, where he observed and provided guidance on endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) procedures. He engaged in an in-depth discussion and exchange with the Endoscopy Center team on various aspects of bronchoscopy in China and Germany, including anesthesia methods, the selection of endoscope size, and procedural workflows.
As one of the co-inventors of EBUS, Prof. Herth worked with thoracic surgeons from Japan and Denmark in the late 1990s to pioneer this technique, making an important contribution to the development of bronchoscopy.
Complex Cases Discussion
Following the observation, Prof. Herth proceeded to another campus of the hospital to participate in a discussion of a complex case and ward rounds. The case involved a patient with recurrent adenocarcinoma accompanied by systemic metastases. Drawing on his extensive experience, Prof. Herth provided valuable recommendations regarding the subsequent diagnostic and treatment strategy for the patient.
Lectures to Empower the Development of the Specialty
In the afternoon, Prof. Herth delivered two lectures for the team of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The topics were biobank development and key considerations in writing and submitting high-impact respiratory medicine papers. From the perspectives of an international journal editor-in-chief and reviewer, Prof. Herth provided the doctors in attendance with highly practical guidance.
In the first lecture, Prof. Herth shared the experience of Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg in developing its biobank. The hospital's biobank was established in 2001 and started the digitization of sample management in 2015. It currently contains approximately 685,000 samples, making it one of the largest biobanks in Germany. Prof. Herth pointed out that, with the continued increase in the number of patients with lung diseases, particularly lung cancer, the clinical need for innovative treatment approaches has become increasingly urgent. The development of a biobank is not only an important foundation for basic research, but also a key foundation for advancing translational medicine and ultimately benefiting patients.
He also emphasized that the development of a biobank requires sustained financial investment and multidisciplinary collaboration, including collaboration with the departments of pathology, oncology, and thoracic surgery, etc. Although significant results may be difficult to achieve in the short term, over the long term-- five to ten years-- the research outcomes generated by the biobank will play an irreplaceable clinical role and ultimately benefit a large number of patients. He noted that this is a strategic undertaking worthy of investment by the hospital leadership.
The second lecture focused on tips and tricks for writing and submitting academic papers. Drawing on his extensive experience as a reviewer, Prof. Herth reminded the audience that great attention should be paid to grammar and spelling in the writing process, and that reviewers' comments should always be treated with respect and strictness. He also shared specific writing techniques for sections including the abstract, discussion, and results. He then exchanged views with the doctors in attendance and answered their questions regarding practical issues encountered during the submission process.
At the conclusion of the lectures, Prof. Li expressed his sincere appreciation to Prof. Herth for his guidance and exchange over the two days. He hoped that more opportunities for collaboration could be created in the future and that Prof. Herth would visit Lianyungang again. Finally, Prof. Herth took a group photo with the team of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, marking the successful conclusion of his two-day visit as a Visiting Professor.
