Recently, Xiamen University-Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital (Xiamen Heart Centre, XHC) successfully dismantled the “bombs” in three patients diagnosed with ventricular aneurysm by applying the technique of folding the ventricle wall for the first time in the Asia-Pacific region, which is also the cutting-edge treatment for ventricular aneurysm in the world. Up to now, there are just about 100 such surgeries that have been performed in nowhere else but Europe.

Ventricular aneurysm, a serious complication of myocardial infarction, is known as a "ticking time bomb" and has a mortality rate as high as some malignant tumors. Doctor Xiao Guosheng said that if left untreated, it would finally lead to heart failure. Sometimes even some simple body movements like squatting or moving a chair could “detonate” the fragile aneurysm and cause sudden death.

In the effort to tackle the long-standing conundrum regarding ventricular aneurysm in the field of cardiovascular diseases, XHC has always stayed at the forefront across the country over all these years. In 2015, XHC spearheaded the technique of parachute closure in Fujian Province, and has successfully implanted the "parachutes" safely in the hearts of 26 patients to wall off the aneurysm, ranking XHC at the top among the hospitals in China in terms of the number of such cases.

"It has been the constant pursuit of our hospital to introduce the globally advanced surgical technique and explore more surgical approaches to meet the needs of varied patients," said Wang Yan, director of XHC. “our application of the new treatment for ventricular aneurysm is by far ahead of all the other hospitals in the Asia Pacific region. This new technique and 'parachute' share the same goal, which is to shrink the enlarged left ventricle, rebuild the heart structure, and remove the 'bomb'. However, their methods are totally different. 'Parachute' is to isolate the aneurysm, while this new technique attempts to fold the aneurysm.”

The surgery has attracted the experts on cardiovascular disease from Malaysia, Taiwan etc. to visit and observe. US Professor Lon, who is the inventor of this new treating technique, was present at the operation scene. After witnessing the successful performance of the surgery, Prof. Lon expressed his recognition and appreciation to XHC for their pioneering feat in the whole Asian-pacific region, saying, "The whole team here in XHC is one of the best medical teams I have ever seen. Not only the technique in medicine and surgery is superb, their teamwork is also close to perfection.”

The successful performance of this surgery not only reflected the important leading role played by Xiamen University-Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital in the regional technique innovation of cardiovascular disease, but also marked a breakthrough from zero to one in this technique in our country and even Asia, bringing a brand-new perspective on the treatment and a hope of new life for patients affected with ventricular aneurysm.

Edited by Luo Shuang

Source: http://news.xmu.edu.cn/1f/cb/c1552a270283/page.htm