Wuxi doctor demonstrates high-tech heart surgery technique for first time in China

Ajit Yoganathan, professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a member of the United States National Academy of Engineering, shares his decades of experience in cardiovascular fluid mechanics at an event at Wuxi Mingci Cardiovascular Hospital in Wuxi, Jiangsu province on Oct 22. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The chief surgeon of a Wuxi hospital demonstrated a cutting-edge new cardiovascular surgery technique for the first time in China on Oct 22.

Doctor Qiao Bin performed the live surgery demonstration at Wuxi Mingci Cardiovascular Hospital, a Sino-German establishment in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, watched by a group of cardiovascular surgeons from across China and abroad.

The technique Dr Qiao was demonstrating integrates cutting-edge computational science technology to assist surgeons undertaking palliative cardiovascular operations on children with uni-ventricular hearts.

The new technique could benefit thousands of patients, since operating on children with uni-ventricular hearts is notoriously complex and still involves significant risk.

Doctor Dietmar Scharanz, a German expert in pediatric cardiology, shares his ideas about the Fontan procedure at the event in Wuxi. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In many cases, the procedure can result in normal or near-normal growth, development, exercise tolerance, and good quality of life. However, in 20 to 30 percent of cases, patients will eventually require a heart transplant and may suffer from long-term complications.

The computational technology can also help surgeons evaluate the outcome of an operation more accurately and adjust the patient's treatment plan accordingly. This can help prevent long-term complications and decrease patients' medical costs.

Dr Qiao developed the high-tech new surgery in partnership with Ajit Yoganathan, professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a member of the United States National Academy of Engineering.

The professor's expertise in cardiovascular fluid mechanics (CFM), in which computer modeling is used to visualize the fluid dynamics inside the heart, helped his Chinese partner gain a deeper understanding of cardiovascular problems.

Dr Qiao's live demonstration of a CFM-assisted surgery went well and was highly praised by the attendees.

Wuxi Mingci Cardiovascular Hospital and Nanjing Medical University agree to establish a new center for integrated medical and clinical research and institutes for computational cardiology and translational medicine at the conference in Wuxi, Jiangsu province on Oct 22. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The successful outcome of the surgery was not the only piece of good news for Wuxi Mingci Cardiovascular Hospital on the day. The hospital also confirmed a deal with Nanjing Medical University to jointly set up a center for integrated medical and clinical research, as well as institutes for computational cardiology and translational medicine.