Lili Zhao
Papers
3
Total Citations
179
H-Index
3
About
Dr. Lili Zhao is a leading surgical outcomes researcher whose work centers on optimizing recovery and quality of life for patients undergoing thoracic and esophageal procedures. Her primary research areas include comparative effectiveness of minimally invasive surgical techniques—specifically robotic-assisted, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and open approaches—and patient-reported outcomes following major oncologic resections. Dr. Zhao’s most influential contribution is her landmark 2017 study evaluating acute and chronic pain after pulmonary resection, which has garnered over 140 citations and provided critical evidence guiding postoperative pain management strategies. She has further advanced the field by demonstrating that VATS lobectomy yields superior long-term quality-of-life metrics compared to robotic-assisted lobectomy, a finding with significant implications for surgical decision-making. Her work on transhiatal esophagectomy has also shown comparable quality of life between conventional and robotic approaches. Through rigorous comparative analyses, Dr. Zhao has helped establish evidence-based benchmarks for patient-centered outcomes, directly influencing clinical practice and shaping future research directions in thoracic surgery.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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