Innovation Drives the Future: The 5th FTC Forum on Frontier Technologies in Cardiac Surgery Concludes Successfully!

From December 1 to 2, 2023, the “5th FTC Frontier Technologies in Cardiac Surgery Forum 2023,” co-hosted by the Cardiac Surgery Technology and Engineering Committee of the China Medical Biotechnology Association and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and co-organized by the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital) and VCBeat, was successfully held. Themed “Heart Towards Brilliance,” the forum brought together experts, scholars, corporate representatives, and industry professionals from both domestic and international cardiac surgery fields to jointly discuss technological advancements and development trends in cardiac surgery, as well as industrial innovation and collaboration opportunities.

This year’s FTC features two major formats: “offline” and “online.” The offline segment integrates discussions on cutting-edge clinical academic trends and industrial development, delving deeply into the future direction of cardiovascular medicine.

Shanghai DeltaHealth Hospital,Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityProf. Sun LizhongAt the Opening CeremonyDelivering opening remarks for this conference, and extending warm welcome and sincere gratitude to all colleagues who have participated in and supported this event.Professor Sun statedFTCCommitted to providing a platform for exchange and connection for all colleagues who have strived, and will continue to strive, in the fields of technology, equipment, and research and development in cardiovascular surgery, while also building bridges among academia, industry, and research institutions in the cardiovascular field to facilitate the development of new technologies and the research of new products.in order toAccelerating the Rapid Development of China’s Comprehensive Strength in Cardiovascular Surgery.

Opening Remarks by Professor Sun Lizhong of Shanghai DeltaHealth Hospital and Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University

Professor Ge Jianjun, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital)Instated in the addressAdvances in cardiac surgery are by no means the sole responsibility of clinicians; rather, they require a collaborative effort among universities, research and development institutions, enterprises, and capital to jointly drive technological progress. Clinicians must excel in their core duties, thoroughly understand patient conditions, and maintain an open mindset to embrace new innovations and concepts.

Address by Professor Ge Jianjun, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital)

The offline venue focuses on four major themes as the primary directions for discussion:“Cutting-Edge Clinical Technologies in Aortic Intervention,” “Current Status and Development of Transcatheter Heart Valves,” “Progress in the Development of Artificial Hearts,” and “Hot Trends in the Industrialization of Cardiovascular Care”. Cardiovascular surgery experts from across China gathered in person to share their latest advances in clinical practice and academic research. FromProfessor Zheng Jun, Peking Union Medical College HospitalPreside over the conference.

In terms of clinical work, fromProfessor Liu Zhao, Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalShared "Risk Factors for Postoperative Complications of F-B TEVAR in the Treatment of Aortic Arch Lesions: A National Multicenter Study".Professor Kong Xiang, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital)Application of the Castor Branched Stent Graft Combined with Parallel Stent Technique in Zone 1 TEVARProfessor Zuo Jian, Xijing Hospital of Air Force Medical University"Endovascular Treatment of Aortic Arch Lesions: From Single-Branched to Triple-Branched Grafts"Professor Wang Shengxun, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityShared “Application of Virtual Image Fusion Technology in Interventional Procedures for the Four Major Cardiac Valves,” which integrates imaging data with real-time intraoperative images to provide clinicians with more information.Professor Yu Jianbo, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University"Use of Cerebral Protection Devices During TAVR" was introduced. He noted that TAVR patients are often under anesthesia, leading to delayed diagnosis of perioperative stroke. When stroke is suspected, prompt cerebral CT scanning and cerebral angiography should be performed, and a multidisciplinary stroke team should be actively engaged to provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment.Professor Zhu Enjun, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityIn his presentation titled “Opportunities and Challenges for Cardiac Surgeons in the Era of Interventional Valves,” he argued that, given the rapid advancement of interventional valve technologies, cardiac surgeons should leverage this momentum by integrating the complementary strengths of surgical and interventional valve therapies to achieve superior clinical outcomes.Professor He Xiaonan, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityIt elaborates on "Indications and Patient Selection for Left Ventricular Assist Devices," pointing out that patients undergoing staged left ventricular assist device implantation experience gradual improvement in preoperative cardiac function postoperatively, yielding significant clinical benefits.Professor Du Juan, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical SciencesA detailed introduction to “ICU Management After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation” was provided, with a specific reminder that intrapump thrombosis cannot be determined solely based on the pump index of the patient; regular monitoring is required during follow-up.Professor Dai Xiaofu, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, sharing insights on “New Hope for Heart Failure: Current Status and Prospects of Ventricular Assist Technology” from four perspectives: the epidemiology of heart failure, the background of ventricular assist development, the current application status of ventricular assist devices, and the future development of ventricular assist devices.Professor Pan Jun, Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalPresenting “Application of Implantable Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Heart Failure Patients: A Case Share.”

The Development of the Industry Requires Long-Term Collaboration Among All Ecosystem Stakeholders。Xiao Wei, President of Sichuan Science City HospitalDelivering an inspiring keynote address themed “Integration of Medicine and Engineering for a Healthy China,” he presented the current state of medical-engineering integration from four perspectives: translation trends, technical resources, opportunities, and vision. At the conference, Xiao Wei, President of Sichuan Science City Hospital, and Professor Zhang Hai, together with President Sun Lizhong and Professor Zheng Jun from the Chinese Association of Medical Biotechnology, signed a strategic cooperation agreement on building a platform for the translation of scientific and technological achievements.

Signing Ceremony

As a key driver of industrial development,Mr. Liu Weiting, General Manager of Abbott Medical in Greater ChinaHe shared insights on “Unlocking the Potential of Every Heart: A Full Lifecycle, Full-Portfolio Solution for Structural Heart Disease,” noting that Abbott has invested across multiple areas, with a particular focus on advancing cardiac-related fields and is committed to providing tailored treatment options for diverse patient populations.

Dr. Jin Lei, Chairman of BaiRen MedicalStarting from the characteristics of valvular heart disease in the Chinese population, this article introduces the path of original innovation and domestic substitution. He believes that original innovation is the only way to solve the problems of Chinese patients with valvular heart disease, and how to improve the durability of biological valves is an important issue for the localization of Chinese medical devices.

Mr. Li Yingjun, Dean of the Beijing Tonghe Taida Institute for Translational Medicine and Chairman of the Committee on Medical Animal Experiment Experts of the Chinese Research Hospital AssociationHe shared insights on “The Critical Role of Animal Studies in Innovative Medical Device Research,” elaborating on the role of animal studies in medical device R&D, as well as research needs and clinical requirements, ultimately facilitating the rapid and smooth translation of innovative medical devices into clinical practice.

The online segment primarily focused on clinical academic discussions, with key topics including rare cardiac surgeries, cardiac tumors, Behçet's disease, and surgical management of post-aortic surgery infections. The keynote session of the conference was delivered byProfessor Xu Shangdong, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityandProfessor Shen Chunjian, the Fourth People's Hospital of Shenyang, China Medical UniversityServed as the host.

During the keynote speech session, fromProfessor Zhu Junming, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, he delivered a presentation titled “Aortic Dissection Complicating Pregnancy: Clinical Features, Management Strategies, and Treatment Outcomes,” providing an in-depth analysis of the clinical characteristics, management strategies, and treatment outcomes of this condition. Meanwhile, fromProfessor Yu Cuntao of Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences、Prof. Qiu Juntao, they presented “A Case of New-Onset Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm Following Repair of a Right Coronary Artery to Right Atrial Fistula.”Professor Sun Tucheng of Guangdong Provincial People's HospitalHe delivered a presentation titled “Causes and Countermeasures for Poor Stent Deployment Morphology After the Sun’s Procedure,” providing an in-depth discussion on the causes and countermeasures for poor stent deployment morphology following the Sun’s procedure. Furthermore,Professor Zhou Jianliang of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University、Professor Wang WeiShared "Experience in the Management of a Patient with Pulmonary Vein Ostial Stenosis after Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation",Professor Liu Wei of Shanghai DeltaHealth Hospitaldelivered a special presentation on “Treatment of Large Vascular Graft Infections”Professor Zhang Chaoji"Cardiac Surgery for Behçet's Disease"Prof. Miao QiEmphasized sharing of "Commando Surgery,"Professor Zhou BaotongHe shared insights on “Anti-infective Strategies for Infective Endocarditis,” delving into the etiology and epidemiology of infective endocarditis, and providing an in-depth analysis of the principles and methods of anti-infective therapy.Professor Liu Jianzhoudelivered a special lecture titled “Surgical Treatment of Infective Endocarditis Involving the Aortic Root,”Prof. Liu Xingrong“Redo Surgery for Infective Endocarditis After Root Replacement” was presented. Professor Liu elaborated on the indications, contraindications, and surgical techniques for redo surgery in patients with infective endocarditis following root replacement. During the morning session, distinguished experts delivered insightful presentations. Drawing from their respective academic expertise and clinical experience, they conducted in-depth analyses and discussions on clinical challenges in the field of great vessel diseases and technical issues in complex cardiac surgeries.

The afternoon session will be led by representatives fromProfessor Fan Xiangming, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of MedicineIn his opening remarks, he delivered a presentation titled “Treatment Strategies for Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum in Neonates,” providing a detailed overview of the therapeutic approaches and strategies for this condition. SubsequentlyProfessor Cai Jie of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityHe shared his experiences and insights on “Heart Transplantation in Children with Dextrocardia.” Furthermore, fromProfessor Duan Weixun, Xijing Hospital of the Air Force Medical University"Experience Sharing in the Treatment of a Rare Case of Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Complicated by Acute Type A Aortic Dissection"Professor Zhao Yanxue of Peking Union Medical College Hospital"Application of Autologous Heart and Lung Transplantation in Complex Tumors,"Prof. Ma GuotaoSharing on “Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Venous Leiomyomatosis”Professor Liu XinpeiUnder the title “Surgical Treatment of Cardiac Paraganglioma and Primary Cardiac Sarcoma,” experts delivered excellent presentations on their respective topics.

By sharing their research findings and clinical experience, the participating experts jointly discussed the current status of treatment for large-vessel diseases and future development directions, providing attendees with valuable academic resources and clinical guidance.

The online academic exchange activities not only enabled participants to gain insights into the latest academic frontiers, clinical techniques, and technological integration, but also provided a platform for experts across various fields to learn from and engage with one another, thereby contributing to the continuous improvement of treatment standards for large vessel diseases.

China’s cardiovascular disease burden continues to intensify, with severe trends in population risk factors and disease prevalence. Cardiovascular surgery faces numerous challenges, including uneven disciplinary development, significant variations in medical quality, and a lack of clinical guidelines and evidence. The concept of quality control and improvement has now matured and has been implemented across multiple healthcare sectors. Starting from scratch, China’s cardiac surgery diagnosis and treatment sector has experienced robust growth, witnessing shifts in international cardiac surgical technology trends and, guided by numerous pioneers in the field, gradually catching up to the international forefront.

Humanity continually advances through breakthroughs and innovation, and the field of cardiac surgery is no exception. Repeated breakthroughs in cardiac surgical procedures have renewed hope for survival in hearts once on the verge of irreversible arrest. If all beginnings are like unknown seeds growing in soil that may be barren or fertile, then regardless of external conditions, the seed’s task is to absorb nutrients, remain grounded, and progress step by step—germinating, breaking through the soil, sprouting leaves, and blooming—until the day it bears abundant fruit.

"Follow your heart, and you will eventually shine brightly."