Fuwai Hospital | World's Leading Cardiovascular Center

Cardiology (心血管内科): This department specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of various heart diseases, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia. It provides patients with advanced medical therapies and interventional procedures. As a leading cardiovascular institution, the cardiology department benefits from the hospital's world-class facilities and professional cardiac team.

Cardiovascular Surgery (心血管外科): Renowned for performing complex cardiac surgeries with high success rates, this department covers procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), heart valve replacement, and congenital heart disease repair. In 2023, the hospital performed a total of 18,874 cardiovascular surgeries, maintaining a remarkable 30-day postoperative mortality rate of 0.4%, which has been consistently below 1% for 15 consecutive years, a leading level among global cardiac centers. The average postoperative hospital stay across all surgical procedures was reduced to within 8 days in 2023, attributed to strong multidisciplinary cooperation.

• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): In 2023, 6,680 CABG procedures were completed, including 4,962 isolated cases, with the 30-day mortality rate for isolated CABG remaining below 0.5% for 10 consecutive years. The department employs advanced techniques such as bilateral internal thoracic artery, radial artery, and total arterial grafts, with arterial graft usage consistently over 95% to provide personalized revascularization. The "No-touch" technique for vein harvesting significantly reduces graft occlusion, myocardial infarction, and re-revascularization rates after CABG at 3 years.

• Heart Valve Surgery: Fuwai Hospital is the largest cardiac valve surgery center in China. In 2023, 6,479 patients underwent valve operations with a 30-day mortality of 0.5%. The department has observed a significant shift in valvular disease etiology, with degenerative and congenital causes now more prevalent than rheumatic ones.

• Aortic Surgery: This specialty saw an average postoperative hospital stay of 7.3 days in 2023. Procedures span various regions of the aorta, including the aortic root, ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta, thoracoabdominal aorta, and abdominal aorta.

• Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Surgery: The surgical volume for congenital heart disease fully recovered to its highest historical levels in 2023, with an in-hospital mortality rate of just 0.2%. The department performed a record 3,610 critical and complex CHD surgeries in 2023, supported by the National Cardiovascular Disease Centre Specialist Alliance. Neonatal cardiac surgery mortality rates remain low. The department also offers advanced treatments like the Potts shunt for severe pulmonary hypertension in children. The hospital contributes to major research, including studies on CHD treatment outcomes and economic burden published in "The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health-Series".

• Surgical Treatment of Late-Stage Heart Disease:

  • Heart Transplantation: In 2023, 141 in situ heart transplantations were performed, with the mortality rate consistently falling below 1% for the third consecutive year.

  • Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD): Fuwai Hospital has conducted the largest clinical evaluation of implantable LVADs in China, with 110 LVAD implantations completed by December 2023. The 3-year survival rate for LVAD patients at Fuwai Hospital surpasses that of the widely used Heartmate III pump and is comparable to China's heart transplantation outcomes, reaching an internationally leading level.

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The hospital performs Morrow surgery for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with stable and mature outcomes, reporting no surgical mortality for these procedures in 2023.

• Pulmonary Hypertension: Fuwai Hospital is one of the world's largest centers for the hybrid treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), utilizing pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) combined with pulmonary artery balloon dilation.

Arrhythmia Center (心律失常中心): This center specializes in the management of abnormal heart rhythms, providing comprehensive diagnostic services and treatment options, including catheter ablation and device implantation.

Heart Failure Center (心力衰竭中心): Dedicated to the treatment of patients with heart failure, this center develops personalized treatment plans that integrate various medical, interventional, and surgical approaches. The hospital's expertise in advanced heart failure therapies, such as LVAD implantation, significantly contributes to the comprehensive care provided.

Hypertension Center (高血压中心): This department offers expert diagnosis and control of hypertension, providing individualized treatment to minimize the risk of hypertension-related complications. The center's approach aligns with national guidelines emphasizing early detection and management. Individuals with high blood pressure (systolic 130-139mmHg and/or diastolic 85-89mmHg), who are overweight or obese, have a family history of hypertension, a long-term high-salt diet, chronic excessive alcohol consumption, or are aged 55 or older are considered at-risk. Regular blood pressure monitoring is encouraged, at least annually for adults and every six months for at-risk groups, with a strong recommendation for home blood pressure self-monitoring. The center's treatment strategies are informed by extensive clinical trials, including Chinese studies like Syst-China, STONE, PATS, FEVER, and CHIEF, which have demonstrated the effectiveness of various antihypertensive drugs in reducing cardiovascular events like stroke.

Structural Heart Disease Center (结构性心脏病中心): Highly skilled in treating structural heart problems, such as congenital heart defects and valvular heart diseases, this center employs both traditional and minimally-invasive techniques. In 2023, the center completed 36 cases of percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation. The center is also a hub for academic exchange, having hosted the 4th and 5th China Structural Heart Disease Conferences, attracting a large number of attendees (nearly 80,000 for the 5th conference) and featuring online surgical live broadcasts and training sessions. It serves as a National Structural Heart Disease Interventional Technology Training Base, training both domestic and international medical professionals.

Vascular Surgery (血管外科): This specialized department focuses on the treatment of diseases affecting blood vessels, including conditions like aortic aneurysms and peripheral vascular diseases. It employs advanced surgical and endovascular methods to address these complex vascular issues. The center actively participates in academic events, having hosted the China Vascular Conference and the Aortic Disease Symposium.

Coronary Heart Disease Center (冠心病中心): This center is dedicated to the comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease. It offers a full spectrum of services, ranging from medical management to advanced interventional and surgical treatments, including coronary artery bypass grafting. The hospital has implemented a "Green Channel" workflow to streamline care for coronary artery surgery patients.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Center (心脏康复中心): The primary goal of this center is to help patients recover heart function and improve their quality of life following heart-related events. In 2023, the center expanded its rehabilitation services to cover all surgical intensive care units and general wards across 19 inpatient areas, providing 92,615 inpatient rehabilitation sessions – an 80% increase from 2022. Outpatient rehabilitation sessions totaled 6,138, showing continuous growth. The center emphasizes screening and intervention for frail patients to reduce postoperative complications and hospitalization time, boasting a 0% incidence of adverse events among patients in 2023. It employs a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach, offers home rehabilitation plans, and is evolving into a comprehensive rehabilitation center that addresses various conditions, including pediatric congenital heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, and cerebrovascular disease. Innovative programs include expressive art therapy and weight loss training camps. The center is also instrumental in promoting lifestyle medicine, having established the National Cardiovascular Center Lifestyle Medicine Alliance with 93 member units, translated the book "Lifestyle Medicine," and developed the "Comprehensive Evaluation Index for Healthy Lifestyle in China".

Medical Checkup Center (体检中心): This department is dedicated to providing comprehensive medical check-up services.