Surgical technique developed in China helps thousands abroad

A domestically-developed, novel surgical method for a common heart disease has been used to treat over 200,000 patients in more than 60 countries and regions, and has the potential to reach even more in underserved and remote areas across the globe, a senior cardiologist said recently.

The percutaneous and non-fluoroscopy (PAN) procedure offers a simplified approach to mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. This treatment addresses mitral valve regurgitation, a disorder where the heart valve fails to close properly during pumping, causing blood to leak backward.

Developed by Pan Xiangbin, vice-president of Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, and his team, the PAN procedure primarily features the use of ultrasound guidance instead of X-rays, eliminating the risk of harmful radiation exposure.

With support from the United Nations Peace and Development Fund, the procedure is being promoted in developing countries, aiming to improve impoverished patients' access to quality cardiovascular care, while reducing their financial burdens.

The Chinese team has also developed mobile surgical vehicles to offer door-to-door procedures, making medical services more easily accessible, Xie Yongquan, deputy director of the hospital's department of structural heart disease, said during the 2025 China Heart Congress that was held in Beijing in late September.

Xie added that an international standard for the PAN procedure, formulated by the Chinese team, has been made permanently open and free by the IEEE Standards Association, enabling remote and less-developed regions to adopt this advanced medical solution.

Large-scale, multicenter clinical trials will also generate robust evidence to solidify the treatment's position in standard clinical care, according to Xie.