A Historic Medical Feat Saves Patient with Dual Brain Tumors at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
In an extraordinary display of endurance, medical brilliance, and human compassion, two surgeons were photographed lying exhausted on the floor of an operating room after performing a record-breaking 32-hour brain surgery that successfully removed two life-threatening tumors from a single patient.
The operation, conducted at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital in Fuzhou, southeastern China, began at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and concluded in the early hours of Sunday morning, marking what has been described as the longest neurosurgical procedure in the hospital’s history.
The complex surgery brought together a powerhouse medical team consisting of:- 3 senior neurosurgeons- 6 anesthesiologists- 8 surgical Nurses together, they conducted six intricate procedures to safely extract both an aneurysm and a brain-stem hemangioblastoma—two dangerous and delicate conditions rarely addressed in a single operation due to the massive risks involved.
Dr. Chen Jianping, one of the lead surgeons, explained: “The patient had both an aneurysm and a brain-stem hemangioblastoma. We had to remove both tumors in one go. This required six separate surgical procedures. If you are removing one tumor and the other ruptures mid-procedure, the consequences could be fatal.”
Throughout the grueling 32-hour procedure, the surgical team took only minimal breaks, driven by focus and a shared commitment to saving a life. At some point, the patient’s family began to express concern—not just for their loved one, but for the health of the doctors pushing their physical and mental limits in the operating room.
Despite the risks, the team persevered, and the surgery ended successfully without complications. A photograph taken shortly after the surgery has since gone viral: it shows two of the surgeons collapsed on the operating room floor, still in full scrubs, lying side by side in sheer exhaustion. One of them raises two fingers in a “V-sign” for victory—a powerful symbol of triumph not only over medical odds but over human limitation.
The image has stirred emotional responses across social media platforms in China and globally, with users praising the courage, skill, and selflessness of the medical team.
This medical marathon has already been etched into the records of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, not just for its length and complexity, but for showcasing the endurance of the human spirit under pressure. It’s a reminder that behind every major medical breakthrough are individuals who are willing to sacrifice sleep, comfort, and sometimes even their own health—all in the name of healing.
