[News] Successful Implantation of a Fully Magnetically Levitated LVAD at Chinese Hospital

Recently, Professor Huang Keli and Professor Yu Tao from Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital led a multidisciplinary LVAD team in successfully implanting a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for a middle-aged female patient with end-stage heart failure using the Chongxin Medical independently developed fully magnetically levitated implantable left ventricular assist system, Cifu® VAD. Thanks to meticulous preoperative assessment, precise strategy formulation, and meticulous intraoperative operations, the surgical team fully leveraged the stable and reliable performance of the Cifu® VAD, achieving satisfactory surgical outcomes and helping the patient regain a "heart"-felt new life. The successful completion of this surgery also marks a new milestone in the artificial heart technology project at the Cardiac Center of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, advancing the steady progress of end-stage heart failure treatment in China.

Patient Profile

The patient is a 50-year-old female who presented with palpitations after activity for over 2 months. More than 2 months prior to admission, the patient experienced palpitations after activity without any obvious triggers, accompanied by right upper abdominal distension and bilateral lower limb weakness, but denied symptoms such as dizziness, headache, shortness of breath, or hemoptysis. During hospitalization at a local hospital, relevant examinations were completed, leading to a diagnosis of "dilated cardiomyopathy, rapid atrial fibrillation, NYHA Class IV heart function." Treatment with medications to correct heart failure was ineffective. The patient now seeks further treatment.

Admission Diagnosis: Acute decompensated heart failure; Dilated cardiomyopathy with enlarged left ventricle and atrium, severely reduced systolic function, severe mitral regurgitation (Carpentier Type IIIb), rapid atrial fibrillation, EF-decreased heart failure, NYHA Class IV heart function; Pulmonary nodules; Pericardial effusion.

Auxiliary Examinations:

• Electrocardiogram: Atrial fibrillation; T-wave changes.

• Echocardiography: LV anterior-posterior diameter 73 mm, LVEF 26%, TAPSE 18 mm, severe mitral regurgitation, mild tricuspid regurgitation, small amount of pericardial effusion.

• Cardiac MRI: Imaging findings of dilated cardiomyopathy with myocardial fibrosis, reduced left and right ventricular systolic function (LVEF 19%), severe mitral regurgitation, small amount of pericardial effusion.

• Swan-Ganz Catheterization: RV 40/15 (23) mmHg, PA 44/32 (36) mmHg, PAWP 29 mmHg.

• Laboratory Tests: NT-proBNP 1222 pg/ml.

  
  

Based on preoperative examination results, the patient has end-stage heart failure, NYHA Class IV, AHA Stage D, INTERMACS Level 3. After multidisciplinary team consultation, it was unanimously agreed that the patient meets the indications for LVAD implantation. Given the current shortage of donors and the risk of sudden malignant arrhythmias while awaiting matching, LVAD implantation is the most feasible option to effectively prolong the patient's life. After full communication with the patient and her family, the surgical team, considering the patient's condition, decided to adopt a surgical approach of "beating-heart minimally invasive artificial heart implantation + aortic valve repair + left atrial appendage closure" to protect the patient's right heart function while facilitating rapid postoperative recovery, maximizing improvement in prognosis and future quality of life.

Following adequate preoperative preparation and optimization, and exclusion of contraindications, the surgery was performed on August 19, 2025, under the lead of Professor Yu Tao. After several hours of dedicated effort, the surgical team completed high-difficulty steps including small incision sternotomy, establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass, apical coring, LVAD implantation, assembly of outflow graft, LVAD pump speed adjustment, driveline connection and fixation, and anastomosis of inflow and outflow grafts. The LVAD was successfully implanted into the patient's chest cavity. The main steps of the surgery (LVAD device implantation) were performed under cardioplegic arrest, with a cardiopulmonary bypass time of 164 minutes and an aortic cross-clamp time of only 40 minutes.

After flow reduction adjustment based on monitoring indicators, the artificial heart operated at a target speed of 2700 rpm and 3.36 L/min, assisting in pumping blood and bringing new hope for life to the patient. Due to the selection of a minimally invasive small incision approach in strategy formulation, the patient recovered quickly postoperatively with minimal drainage volume. The endotracheal tube was removed on POD1 (postoperative day 1), the patient was transferred from the ICU to a general ward on POD6, and the right chest and pericardial drainage tubes were removed on POD7. Under the attentive care of the medical staff, the patient's heart function gradually improved, and exercise tolerance enhanced. The patient has now been discharged in good condition, officially embarking on a "heart"-renewed life.

Patient and Family Learning Post-LVAD Implantation Lifestyle Precautions

The Cardiac Surgery Center of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital is a provincial clinical key discipline, with surgical treatment of advanced heart failure being one of the department's professional strengths. It boasts a professional multidisciplinary team (MDT) composed of experts from cardiac surgery, heart failure center, critical care medicine, cardiovascular ultrasound, anesthesiology and surgical center, rehabilitation, and nutrition, formulating personalized treatment plans for each patient to ensure the best therapeutic outcomes. As the LVAD Project COE Excellence Center, we achieve international advanced levels in medical quality, technological innovation, and patient care. Currently, over 70% of LVAD surgeries can be completed via minimally invasive methods, significantly reducing patient trauma and shortening recovery time, bringing new hope to patients with end-stage heart failure. We are committed to providing the highest quality and safest medical services to every patient with cardiovascular disease.

Patient Discharge Commemoration

Summary

China has a large number of end-stage heart failure patients, with numerous deaths from end-stage heart failure each year. Although heart transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage heart failure, the scarcity of cardiac donors poses significant challenges to patient rescue efforts. The advent of LVAD provides a new treatment option for end-stage heart failure patients lacking donors, offering a precious bridge to heart transplantation or heart function recovery for those whose lives are nearing an end. The Cifu® VAD developed by Chongxin Medical is a new generation of ultra-miniature fully magnetically levitated artificial heart, featuring complete independent intellectual property rights and multiple key technological breakthroughs. It is also China's first fully magnetically levitated artificial heart approved for marketing by the National Medical Products Administration. With the deeper promotion and broader clinical application of LVAD, we believe more heart failure patients will benefit from this technology, enabling high-quality prolongation of life.

---

Expert Profile

Huang Keli

Director of the Cardiac Surgery Center, Sichuan Provincial People's HospitalProfessor Huang has completed over 10,000 various cardiac surgeries. He has performed over 1,000 minimally invasive cardiac surgeries (for congenital heart disease, valvular disease, coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic dissection, etc.). His surgical treatment of great vessel diseases leads the province, routinely conducting total arterial revascularization and minimally invasive bypass surgeries, which are leading in the Southwest region. In 1998, he initiated heart transplantation surgeries, and has participated in 37 cases, including 1 heart-lung combined transplant.

In November 2020, he successfully completed the first clinical commercial application of "artificial heart" in the country, and has now completed 8 "artificial heart" implantation surgeries. Awards include: Second Prize of Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Award in 2006, 12th Batch of Academic and Technical Leaders by the Sichuan Health Commission in 2016, and Third Prize of Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award in 2022. Positions held: Committee Member of the 9th and 10th Committees of the Cardiovascular Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association; Committee Member of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Group of the Pediatric Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association; Committee Member of the 8th Committee of the Organ Transplantation Branch of the Chinese Medical Association; Committee Member of the Cardiovascular Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association; Committee Member of the Medical Robotics Physician Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association; Standing Committee Member of the Cardiovascular Surgery Technology and Engineering Branch of the China Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Association; Committee Member of the Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery Professional Committee of the National Cardiovascular Disease Expert Committee; Committee Member of the Cardiac Surgery Professional Committee of the China Medical Education Association; Deputy Director of the 9th Committee of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Branch of the Sichuan Medical Association; Academic and Technical Leader of the Sichuan Health Commission; Master's supervisor at Sichuan University of Electronic Science and Technology and Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences; Visiting Professor at Jinan University.

Yu Tao

Deputy Director of General Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital; Deputy Director of Cardiac Surgery Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital; Professor, Chief Physician, Level III Expert, MD, Master's Supervisor.

Vice President of the First Cardiovascular Surgery Physician Branch of Sichuan Physicians Association; Deputy Director of the First Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Professional Committee of Sichuan Geriatrics Society; Deputy Director of the First Cardiac Great Vessel Surgery Professional Committee of Sichuan Medical Health and Health Promotion Association; Group Leader of the Great Vessel Professional Group of the First Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Professional Committee of Sichuan Medical Association; Deputy Director of the First Youth Committee of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Professional Committee of Sichuan Medical Association; Committee Member of the First and Second Medical Robotics and Medical Intelligence Professional Committee of Sichuan Medical Association; Committee Member of the Sixth and Seventh Organ Transplantation Professional Committee of Sichuan Medical Association; Committee Member of the First National Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery Professional Committee; Reserve Candidate for Academic and Technical Leader of Sichuan Health and Family Planning Commission.

Graduated from China Medical University with a degree in Clinical Medicine in 1998, obtained a Master's degree in Cardiothoracic Surgery from China Medical University in 2001. After graduation, worked in the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases). Obtained a PhD in Cardiovascular Surgery from the Cardiovascular Disease Institute of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital in 2011. Recruited to Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital in April 2013.

Trained and studied at the Cardiovascular Center of the University of Utah, USA, and the Cardiac Center of Western Ontario University, Canada.

Has completed over 5,000 cardiac surgeries. Possesses rich experience in the surgical treatment of great vessel diseases, valvular diseases, coronary heart disease, congenital heart disease, end-stage heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias.Published more than 30 papers, including over 10 SCI-indexed papers; participated in and completed 5 national and provincial-level research projects.

---

Cross-Border Healthcare Promotion

For international patients seeking advanced cardiac care, including innovative LVAD implantations and heart failure treatments, REBIO GROUP offers comprehensive cross-border healthcare solutions. Our expert team facilitates seamless access to world-class medical services in China, from consultations and personalized treatment plans to postoperative support and travel arrangements. Visit our Cross-Border Healthcare to learn more and connect with us for your healthcare journey. Let us bridge the gap to renewed health—contact us today!