Academician Wang Jian’an’s Team from Zhejiang University’s Second Affiliated Hospital Visits Kazakhstan for Demonstrations of Complex Cardiac Interventions and Academic Exchange

Academician Wang Jian’an’s Team from Zhejiang University’s Second Affiliated Hospital Visits Kazakhstan for Demonstrations of Complex Cardiac Interventions and Academic Exchange

According to the official account of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, a delegation led by Professor Wang Jian’an visited the Research Institute of Cardiology and Internal Diseases (RIKD) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from September 23 to 25. Professor Wang is a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, and President and Director of the Heart Center at the hospital.

The visit included procedural demonstrations, case discussions, and academic lectures on structural heart disease, providing an opportunity for Chinese and Kazakh medical teams to exchange experience in the management of complex valvular disease.

Multidisciplinary Assessment and Individualized Treatment Planning

RIKD is a major national referral and treatment center for cardiovascular disease in Kazakhstan. It has extensive experience in complex coronary interventions and the treatment of structural heart disease, routinely performing procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER).

Before the procedures, Academician Wang’s team conducted preprocedural assessments jointly with Alexey Kolesnikov, Head of the Catheter Intervention Team; Akzhan Konysbekova, Head of the Functional and Ultrasound Diagnostics Department; and local multidisciplinary specialists, including cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.

The teams reviewed each patient’s valvular anatomy, imaging findings, anticipated technical challenges, and procedural strategy to develop individualized treatment plans for the complex cases.

Four Complex Mitral Valve Interventions Completed Collaboratively

During the visit, the Chinese team worked alongside local cardiologists to perform four technically challenging transcatheter mitral edge-to-edge repair procedures as teaching demonstrations.

The first patient had atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR), with severe regurgitation and concomitant posterior mitral leaflet calcification. The challenging leaflet tissue characteristics increased the risk of leaflet injury during the procedure.

Under transesophageal echocardiographic and three-dimensional imaging guidance, the team used the DragonFly™ transcatheter mitral valve clip system and developed a clipping strategy tailored to the patient’s anatomy. The procedure was completed successfully.

According to the hospital’s report, mitral regurgitation was substantially reduced following the procedure. The other three complex procedures were also completed successfully, with favorable immediate procedural outcomes reported.

Sharing Experience in Clinical Practice and Technological Innovation

The academic program included lectures and in-depth discussions with local specialists in interventional cardiology, cardiac imaging, and cardiac surgery. Topics included innovation driven by clinical needs, interventional strategies for complex valvular disease, and independently developed transcatheter valve technologies.

According to Valgen Medtech’s report on the event, Academician Wang shared practical experience in collaboration between clinicians and engineers and the translation of research into clinical applications. Professor Liu Xianbao discussed key aspects of TEER practice, including patient selection, procedural strategies for different valvular lesions, and intraprocedural techniques, drawing on clinical cases to inform the management of complex patients.

The visit also included a cultural exchange. Ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Chinese team shared mooncakes and festive greetings with their Kazakh colleagues, providing an opportunity to strengthen mutual understanding and collegial ties.

By combining the clinical application of an innovative device with the exchange of practical experience, the program addressed preprocedural assessment, imaging interpretation, procedural planning, and technical execution. It provided an opportunity for further exchange between Chinese and Kazakh medical teams in the management of complex structural heart disease.

Sources:The official account of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, “Academician Wang Jian’an’s Team from Zhejiang University’s Second Affiliated Hospital Visits Kazakhstan for Demonstrations of Complex Cardiac Interventions and Academic Exchange,” published on September 26, 2026; and Valgen Medtech’s report on the event.

This article was compiled from the above published reports.