From August 31 to September 3, 2026, three faculty members from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (GMU) — Dr. Hong Cheng, Dr. Chen Yu, and Dr. Lin Jielong — visited Astana Medical University in Kazakhstan. Working with the university, they delivered a respiratory intervention workshop under the annual training plan of the GMU Overseas Medical Training Center (Kazakhstan).

The workshop focused on pulmonary vascular stenosis induced by fibrosing mediastinitis, a disease highly prevalent in Central Asia, and on standardized transairway interventional treatment. It combined academic lectures, case reviews, and hands-on training. Nearly 200 clinicians and medical students attended the theoretical sessions, while 30 senior physicians received one-on-one mentoring. The workshop was the Center's first initiative in respiratory medicine, following its inaugural urology workshop.

Dr. Hong Cheng presented a systematic framework for diagnosing and managing fibrosing mediastinitis, covering its pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and imaging criteria, together with individualized interventional strategies for pulmonary artery stenosis and occlusion, standardized balloon dilation and stent implantation, and protocols for complication prevention and long-term care.

Dr. Chen Yu explained the identification and interventional treatment of benign tracheobronchial stenosis — including balloon dilation, ablation, cryotherapy, and stent implantation — and outlined comprehensive strategies for malignant central airway obstruction, helping local clinicians adopt standardized management of airway diseases.

Dr. Lin Jielong addressed key technical challenges in respiratory intervention, covering pulmonary vascular anatomy, the value of preoperative CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and three-dimensional reconstruction, and the use of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) in complex vascular procedures.

The team also conducted on-site training at the Astana Multidisciplinary Tuberculosis and Internal Medicine Center, guiding local physicians through procedural simulations and key interventional steps. Abylai Shakenov, Vice-Rector of Astana Medical University, attended the training along with other department heads.

The team later visited the National Medical Center of Kazakhstan for exchanges on discipline development and complex case management, where the Kazakh hosts presented honorary certificates to the three faculty members.

The workshop reflects GMU's ongoing efforts to share its clinical expertise and strengthen international partnerships in respiratory medicine.