Pioneer in Minimally Invasive Stone Surgery
Professor Guohua Zeng is a world‐renowned pioneer and innovator in endourology, particularly in the minimally invasive treatment of urolithiasis. As the Vice President of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Head of Urological Surgery, and Director of the Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urological Surgery, he has devoted over 33 years to advancing both basic and clinical research on urinary stone disease. Notably, he has independently performed more than 20,000 minimally invasive stone surgeries, setting a new benchmark in the field.
Among Professor Zeng’s most significant contributions is his development of negative pressure suction-assisted stone extraction in the Super-Mini-PCNL (SMP) technique—which effectively addresses the limitations of traditional mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy. He further advanced flexible ureteroscopy by integrating suction technology to enhance stone clearance rates and by creating the world’s thinnest 7.5 Fr disposable digital flexible ureteroscope, facilitating the global adoption of this cutting-edge approach.
Beyond procedural innovations, Professor Zeng invented the external physical vibration lithotripsy (EVPL) technique and developed the first EVPL machine, greatly accelerating the stone expulsion process. His epidemiological research on urolithiasis in the Chinese adult population not only illuminated the prevalence of the disease but also demonstrated the preventive benefits of regular aged vinegar consumption in reducing stone recurrence.
In 2012, Professor Zeng co-founded the International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU), now comprising 939 members from 115 countries and recognized as the largest global platform for research in urinary stone disease. He has been instrumental in formulating six international diagnostic and treatment guidelines, three global expert consensus statements, and three domestic consensus documents. With over 200 SCI-indexed publications, seven authored monographs, and 45 patents (including multiple international patents), his prolific academic output and technological breakthroughs have earned him numerous national and international accolades.
Equally dedicated to nurturing future urologists, Professor Zeng established China’s first minimally invasive urological surgery training center, which has hosted 53 training sessions over the past five years for more than 8,500 Chinese and nearly 700 international specialists. His surgical demonstrations, delivered across 42 countries, have significantly advanced global practice in minimally invasive urology.
Main Scientific Publications (Refereed)
- Miniaturization in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: What is new? Asian Journal of Urology, 10(2), 145–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajur.2022.09.004
- Zeng, G., & Zhong, W. (Eds.). (2020). Percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0575-1
- Zeng, G., Zhao, Z., Wan, S., Zhao, Z., Zhu, J., & Zhang, C. (2019). Clinical application of super-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the treatment of upper urinary tract stones under ultrasound guidance: A single-center experience. World Journal of Urology, 37(6), 1331–1337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-018-2465-6
- Zeng, G., Zhu, W., Lam, W., Lee, B., Somani, B., Sarica, K., … & Li, J. (2022). International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU) guidelines on percutaneous nephrolithotomy. International Journal of Urology.
- Zeng, G., Zhu, W., Li, J., Zhao, Z., Zeng, T., Yuan, J., & Wang, Q. (2021). Mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a safe and effective treatment for renal stones measuring 20–40 mm: A randomized controlled trial. European Urology, 80(4), 510–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2021.04.032
- Zeng, G. (2020). Super-mini-PCNL (SMP). In G. Zeng & W. Zhong (Eds.), Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (pp. 157–170). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0575-1_15