Senior Consultant
Pancreas and Hepatobiliary Surgeon

Dr Thng Yongxian is a fellowship-trained surgeon specialising in Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and General Surgery who has performed over 6,000 surgical procedures. He focuses on complex pancreas surgery and laparoscopic pancreatic surgery, utilising minimally invasive techniques and advanced surgical expertise to treat a wide range of advanced conditions.

He is known for offering comprehensive pancreatic surgery for cancer, cysts, and pancreatitis, managing both benign/malignant HPB conditions. By combining advanced surgical skill with a patient-centred approach, he aims to deliver effective treatment plans tailored to individual needs.

Dr Thng honed his subspecialty training in HPB surgery at the Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, followed by a clinical fellowship in Minimally Invasive HPB Surgery at Seoul National University Hospital, Bundang, South Korea. He pursued further surgical training at Far Eastern Hospital in Taiwan, Prince of Wales Hepatopancreatobiliary Division in Hong Kong and Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany under the Hepatobiliary and visceral transplant department.

Dr Thng has also contributed to national standards as a member of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Clinician Workgroup. He was appointed Consultant and Clinical Lead of the HPB Division where he advanced the use of laparoscopic techniques for complex HPB surgery. This includes the introduction of the minimally invasive laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy service at the hospital. Under his leadership, up to 80% of complex HPB surgeries — including Whipple procedures, distal pancreatectomies, and major liver resections (e.g. ALPPS) — were performed using minimally invasive techniques.

Dr Thng has accumulated considerable experience in complex liver cancer surgery, including surgically challenging cases such as the resection of giant hepatocellular carcinoma. His clinical work in this area has been documented and published in peer-reviewed research under HPB.

Currently, Dr Thng is a Senior Consultant at Gleneagles Medical Centre, Mt Elizabeth Orchard, Mt Elizabeth Novena, Mt Alvernia, specialising in pancreas surgery. He offers his expertise at these key institutions, including Mount Elizabeth, which is recognised as a centre for high-volume pancreas surgery. He continues to advance the field through his work in a specialised clinic setting, focusing on evidence-based outcomes

Areas of Expertise

• Advanced Laparoscopic Pancreatic Surgery: Proficient in laparoscopic pancreatic surgery for delicate procedures, including minimally invasive Whipple procedures (pancreaticoduodenectomy) and distal pancreatectomy, prioritised to potentially lower post-operative pain and shorten hospital stays.
• Pancreatic Oncology & Cyst Management: Extensive experience in pancreatic cancers and diseases, covering the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), and pre-cancerous cysts (e.g., IPMN). This involves targeted pancreatic surgery for cancer, cysts, and pancreatitis.
• Complex Multidisciplinary Resections: Expertise in complex pancreas surgery that may involve vascular reconstruction or multi-organ resection, such as the ALPPS procedure for concurrent liver involvement. This capability allows for the management of highly challenging benign/malignant HPB conditions. 
• Minimally Invasive Liver Resection: Experienced in laparoscopic liver resection for both benign and malignant conditions, including complex cases involving giant hepatocellular carcinoma. Minimally invasive techniques are employed where appropriate to support recovery. 
• Specialised HPB Focus: A surgeon specialising in HPB, providing integrated care that addresses the interconnected anatomy of the liver, pancreas, and bile ducts. This ensures comprehensive treatment for conditions like obstructive jaundice or bile duct stones often associated with pancreatic issues.

Languages Spoken

• English
• Mandarin
• Cantonese
• Hokkien
• Teochew
• Malay

Professional Appointments

• Former Clinical Lead of the HPB Division at NTFGH
• Member, Ministry of Health (MOH) Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Clinician Workgroup for Value-Driven Care (VDC)
• Senior Clinical Lecturer, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore
• Clinical Lecturer, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore

Awards

• A-Star Medtech Innovation Grant and Award (500k)
• Best video presentation APHPBA 2023 “Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, How I do it”
• Best video and Oral presentation LHC Bangkok 2023 “Laparoscopic Whipple with Replaced Right hepatic artery”
• Best Video presentation: Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy SAGES 2024
• Best Video presentation : Laparoscopic Whipple for duodenal GIST IHPBA South Africa 2024

Research and Publications

• IRCAD websurg publication 2023 “Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy, How I do it”
• Outcomes of Resected Giant Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Tertiary Institution: Does Size Matter? HPB: Volume 17, Issue 11, pages 988–993, November 2015

Accredited Hospitals To Operate In

• Mount Elizabeth Orchard
• Mount Elizabeth Novena
• Parkway East Hospital
• Mount Alvernia Hospital
• Gleneagles Hospital
• Thomson Medical 
• Farrer Park Hospital