Endoscopy Department
Overview
Established on 02/11/2006, the Endoscopy Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital is one of the largest endoscopy centers in the country. It is also among the public system’s endoscopy units pioneering the endoscope sterilization process according to the standards of the World Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
To maintain service quality that meets patients’ trust and a stature appropriate to the hospital’s growth, the Endoscopy Department continuously improves processes, enhances professional expertise, service quality, and invests in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy equipment.
With its current capabilities, the department commits to providing patients with safety in every endoscopic procedure, accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases, supporting effective treatment of patients in other specialized departments.
Strength
During its operation, the Endoscopy Department of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City performs most diagnostic endoscopic techniques including: esophagus‑stomach‑duodenum endoscopy, colon‑rectum endoscopy, small intestine and bronchial endoscopy. The department also implements sedated endoscopy methods to improve service quality for patients. Specifically, some notable techniques applied by the department in treatment are:
Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) treats achalasia without surgery. This minimally invasive treatment technique was performed for the first time in Vietnam.
Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) treats early cancers and neoplastic lesions of the esophagus, stomach, and colon‑rectum.
Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR) treats neoplastic lesions of the esophagus, stomach, and colon‑rectum.
Retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) removes common bile duct stones, places metal stents to treat biliary obstruction caused by cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic head cancer invading the bile duct, and ampullary carcinoma not suitable for surgery.
Balloon dilation of the gastrointestinal tract: a balloon is introduced to the narrowed area of the GI tract (narrowing due to ulcer scar, post‑surgical scar, or achalasia) via endoscopy, then inflated to dilate the stenosis.
Endoscopic transgastric gastrostomy is a procedure that inserts a tube through the abdominal wall into the patient's stomach without surgery.
Placement of metal stents in cases of esophageal or colorectal cancer not indicated for surgery.
Argon plasma coagulation of vascular lesions uses thermal energy from a probe with ionized argon gas plasma, which seals bleeding microvessels without damaging the surrounding gastrointestinal wall.
Over-the-scope clip sutures close gastrointestinal perforations or treats bleeding from gastric ulcers without surgery.
Applying hemostatic powder (e.g., Hemospray®) to control bleeding in gastric ulcers, offering the advantage of non‑contact application without tissue injury.
Single-balloon enteroscopy via the oral route can reach the Treitz ligament and advance up to 80 cm. Additionally, single-balloon enteroscopy via the rectum can overcome colonoscopy limitations by allowing examination of the small intestine through the ileocecal valve.
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Training & Research
The Endoscopy Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City always focuses on comprehensive development of training, scientific research, and international cooperation, viewing this as a key foundation for continuously improving diagnostic, treatment, and patient service quality.
The Endoscopy Department of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City is a place of learning, research, and training for many generations of resident and gastroenterology specialist doctors. It also receives and trains undergraduate and postgraduate trainees such as medical students, junior doctors (CKI), senior doctors (CKII), master's candidates, and researchers.
Each year, the department organizes 6‑8 postgraduate training courses on gastric endoscopy, colon endoscopy, and therapeutic endoscopy for physicians wishing to develop expertise in gastroenterology. Additionally, the Endoscopy Department of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City is one of the few medical centers nationwide that offers a three‑month endoscopy technician training program; the department conducts 2‑3 such courses annually. Throughout its operation, the department regularly conducts training sessions, professional updates, education, and integrates training with scientific research, applying new techniques to clinical practice. Simultaneously, the department provides professional support to provincial and district hospitals to share experience and help patients access optimal treatment methods.
The Endoscopy Department has contributed 50 articles to the Ho Chi Minh City Medical Journal and the Vietnamese Journal of Gastroenterology Science, 5 articles in English, and 6 specialized medical books. Moreover, the department has conducted scientific research including one provincial‑level project, several basic‑level projects on developing new endoscopic techniques, and presented at conferences and seminars of the Vietnamese Society of Gastroenterology, the Vietnamese Association of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and international meetings.
Some techniques that the department has researched and applied include: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia, Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection, Endoscopic Mucosal Resection, over‑the‑scope clip closure of esophageal perforations, hemostasis of gastric ulcers using Hemospray and over‑the‑scope clip, combined endoscopic and surgical hemostasis of vascular lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for removing common bile duct stones, placement of metal stents to treat biliary obstruction caused by cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic head cancer invading the bile duct, and ampullary carcinoma not suitable for surgery.
The Endoscopy Department of University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City collaborates in training with Japanese universities such as Oita University, Kyushu University, Nagoya University.
Equipments
To better serve medical examination and treatment, the Endoscopy Department has invested many 190 series endoscopy systems and numerous 190 series scopes with NBI function to help detect early gastrointestinal cancers. Additionally, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City has provided the department with artificial intelligence (AI) machines to enhance early cancer detection capabilities. Moreover, the department is equipped with modern equipment such as 9 endoscopy systems, 18 stomach scopes, 9 colon‑rectum scopes, 1 bronchial scope, and 2 retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) scopes.
Staff
The staff at the Endoscopy Department of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City includes Associate Professors, PhDs, Level II specialists, Masters and Level I specialist doctors, nursing graduates, professional technicians with many years of experience in endoscopy work and are continuously trained in expertise and work skills to deliver the best results for patients.
