World's first successful cellularized valve surgery performed on 13-year-old patient

Yueyue, 13, who received the world's first successful innovative cellularization pulmonary artery valve replacement surgery at the Union Hospital, an affiliate of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, returned for a follow-up earlier this month.

This innovative cellularized valve, developed by Professor Dong Nianguo of Union Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, addresses the long-standing issue in the international cardiovascular field where biological valves are prone to calcification and deterioration, and valve material options for children are limited. According to reports, Union Hospital has conducted seven cases since this year.

Yueyue's mother recalls that she was diagnosed with congenital heart disease at the age of one. After undergoing surgery in the same year, the symptoms were temporarily relieved. In May 2023, Yueyue was urgently taken to the Union Hospital, where examinations revealed a severe issue with her pulmonary artery valve, requiring immediate surgical intervention.

Considering Yueyue's young age, neither the current biological valves nor mechanical valves were suitable. The hospital decided to perform a transcatheter procedure involving innovative cellularization pulmonary artery valve replacement surgery.

"The new cellularized valve exhibits excellent biomechanical properties. After implantation, the patient's cells will grow within the valve material, allowing for tissue remodeling and repair. This feature reduces the likelihood of calcification and deterioration, restoring pulmonary artery valve function in the child," said Dong.

On May 29, a multidisciplinary team of over 10 medical professionals performed surgery on Yueyue. Using a slender intervention wire, they inserted the new cellularized pulmonary artery valve into Yueyue's pulmonary artery. The valve replacement procedure lasted only 5 minutes, and the patient showed excellent recovery after the surgery.

Yang Zishuo contributed to this story.