Complex coronary heart disease patient regains heart health at Beijing Fuwai Hospital

This year, Mr. U 's (pseudonym) heart health problems have become increasingly severe. He has been suffering from chest tightness and chest pain for nine years. He previously underwent PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) at a hospital in Korea, where two coronary stents were implanted, hoping to alleviate his condition. However, he still frequently experiences chest tightness and shortness of breath. Recently, Mr. U suddenly fainted, accompanied by severe chest tightness and pain, seriously threatening his life and health. With the help of Harbor Health , he traveled to Fuwai Hospital in Beijing for systematic diagnosis and treatment.

Case Overview

This year, Mr. U 's (pseudonym) heart health problems have become increasingly severe. He has been suffering from chest tightness and chest pain for nine years. He previously underwent PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) at a hospital in Korea, where two coronary stents were implanted, hoping to alleviate his condition. However, he still frequently experiences chest tightness and shortness of breath. Recently, Mr. U suddenly fainted, accompanied by severe chest tightness and pain, seriously threatening his life and health. With the help of Harbor Health , he traveled to Fuwai Hospital in Beijing for systematic diagnosis and treatment.

Cause & Challenge

As a global benchmark in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, Beijing Fuwai Hospital (Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences) is China's National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases. With a surgical volume consistently ranking among the world's top, Fuwai Hospital is recognized globally as one of the leading cardiac treatment centers . According to the 2023 Annual Report on Cardiovascular Surgery at Fuwai Hospital, the hospital performed 18,874 cardiovascular surgeries that year, bringing the annual volume of cardiovascular surgeries to nearly 20,000 and interventional cardiovascular procedures to over 50,000. Its total surgical volume and CMI (Case Mix Index) have ranked first among specialized hospitals in China for many consecutive years. Its 30-day postoperative mortality rate is only 0.4%, and has remained below 1% for 15 consecutive years, placing it among the leading cardiac centers worldwide. Upon admission, Harbor Health organized a medical team to conduct a comprehensive and systematic examination of Mr. U, clearly diagnosing him with coronary heart disease, stage 2 hypertension (very high risk), and complex coronary artery lesions. Simple stent treatment was insufficient to meet his treatment needs, making coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) the optimal treatment option. To ensure the safety and efficiency of the surgery, the medical team tailored a personalized surgical plan for Mr. U, successfully completing the CABG procedure. Remarkably, even with such a complex procedure, Mr. U's hospital stay was only about 10 days. This rapid recovery was attributed to both the advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies at Fuwai Hospital, which effectively reduced surgical trauma and shortened the recovery period, and Harbor Health's guidance on postoperative rehabilitation .

Why China

Harbor Health connected the patient with appropriate Chinese medical resources, coordinated expert review, hospital access, interpretation, and treatment planning based on the case needs.

Treatment & Benefits

Systematic cardiac assessment, treatment, and long-term management.

Full Story

As a global benchmark in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, Beijing Fuwai Hospital (Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences) is China's National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases. With a surgical volume consistently ranking among the world's top, Fuwai Hospital is recognized globally as one of the leading cardiac treatment centers . According to the 2023 Annual Report on Cardiovascular Surgery at Fuwai Hospital, the hospital performed 18,874 cardiovascular surgeries that year, bringing the annual volume of cardiovascular surgeries to nearly 20,000 and interventional cardiovascular procedures to over 50,000. Its total surgical volume and CMI (Case Mix Index) have ranked first among specialized hospitals in China for many consecutive years. Its 30-day postoperative mortality rate is only 0.4%, and has remained below 1% for 15 consecutive years, placing it among the leading cardiac centers worldwide.

Upon admission, Harbor Health organized a medical team to conduct a comprehensive and systematic examination of Mr. U, clearly diagnosing him with coronary heart disease, stage 2 hypertension (very high risk), and complex coronary artery lesions. Simple stent treatment was insufficient to meet his treatment needs, making coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) the optimal treatment option. To ensure the safety and efficiency of the surgery, the medical team tailored a personalized surgical plan for Mr. U, successfully completing the CABG procedure. Remarkably, even with such a complex procedure, Mr. U's hospital stay was only about 10 days. This rapid recovery was attributed to both the advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies at Fuwai Hospital, which effectively reduced surgical trauma and shortened the recovery period, and Harbor Health's guidance on postoperative rehabilitation .

The success of the surgery was only the beginning of his recovery. After Mr. U was discharged from the hospital, Harbor Health followed up on his recovery throughout the entire process, established a personalized health record, and conducted regular follow-up monitoring. During a follow-up examination three months after the surgery, Harbor Health astutely discovered that Mr. U still had significant dyslipidemia, which is an important risk factor for the recurrence of coronary heart disease. If not intervened in time, it may affect the surgical outcome and even cause new heart problems.

In response, Harbor Health immediately organized a team of cardiac surgeons and cardiologists to help Mr. U develop a personalized comprehensive treatment plan. This involved precise intervention of his blood lipid levels through lipid-lowering injections and targeted medication. After three months of standardized intervention and management, Mr. U's blood lipid levels had returned to normal during his six-month post-operative check-up, and his overall indicators, including heart function and blood pressure, were all at an ideal level.

The successful treatment and recovery of Mr. U, a patient from Korea, not only demonstrates the top-tier capabilities of Beijing Fuwai Hospital in the field of cardiac surgery—ranking among the world's leading cardiac treatment institutions with its large surgical scale, leading diagnostic and treatment technologies, and extremely low postoperative mortality rate—but also highlights the importance of the "surgical treatment + long-term management" model for heart disease. Fuwai Hospital's superb surgical skills opened a lifeline for patients, while Harbor Health's professional management safeguards their long-term health. Together, they provide efficient, high-quality, and comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation solutions for heart patients worldwide.