Hebei medical team treats Nepali patients

"Despite the daunting surgical challenges, our medical team was determined to tackle this difficult case, giving hope and health to the patient," Zhang said.

With his expertise in laparoscopy, the team managed to minimize the surgical risks and ultimately achieved success.

Hospital director Nirmal Lamichhane, who initially worried about the team performing the surgery due to its high mortality rate, was amazed at the successful outcome. "It was the first retroperitoneal laparoscopic resection of a massive pheochromocytoma at our hospital, and also the first in our country," Nirmal said.

Zhang recalled how grateful the patient's family members were. They presented the medical team with a commemorative banner to honor its efforts.

During their mission in Nepal, the team handled over 6,000 outpatient cases and participated in more than 600 surgeries.

"During the surgeries, we invited local doctors to participate so that they could observe and carry out similar surgeries with the new method after we left," Zhang said.

He added that with the hospital's equipment improving, its doctors have learned related techniques that can help them conduct minimally invasive surgeries.

"I think it is more helpful to teach people how to operate with improved methods," he said.

Hebei has a long history of dedicating its medical professionals to overseas efforts.

Last year marked the 60th anniversary of China's foreign medical aid program, and the 50th anniversary of the province's participation in it.

Over the past five decades, Hebei has dispatched 36 medical teams comprising 809 individuals to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nepal, treating over 6 million patients, according to a report by Hebei Daily.