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Professor Chen Mao's Team Demonstrates Chinese Heart Valve Intervention Technology at the Russian National Cardiology Research Center

Recently, Professor Chen Mao, Associate Professor Liang Yujia, and Associate Professor Zhao Zhengang from West China Hospital of Sichuan University were invited to the Federal State Budgetary Organization National Cardiology Research Center Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation in Moscow to perform two challenging transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair procedures with the China-made DragonFly™ system in collaboration with Russia’s Professor Imaev Timur Emvyarovich. This collaboration not only showcased the international impact of Chinese technology but also laid the foundation for further in-depth cooperation between the two institutions.

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Mitral regurgitation is one of the most common heart valve diseases, with an increasing prevalence as age grows. Many patients with severe mitral regurgitation are unable to undergo surgical treatment due to high surgical risks. The development of transcatheter valve intervention technology has brought new hope to these high-risk patients. Professor Chen Mao's team has accumulated rich experience in the pre-market clinical research of the domestic DragonFly™ transcatheter mitral valve repair system and is at the forefront in the field of transcatheter heart valve disease intervention treatment.

 

The two patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation who underwent the interventional procedure in Russia were both elderly and at high risk for open-heart mitral valve surgery and the challenging mitral valve anatomy made transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair extremely difficult. The Chinese and Russian interventional teams had ample communication and discussion before the procedure, devising detailed strategies. During the procedure, the team successfully delivered the device to the mitral valve lesion area and accurately clipped it under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography and X-rays. Both patients showed significant improvement in mitral regurgitation, with a marked enhancement in heart function.

 

Professor Imaev Timur Emvyarovich highly praised the professional ability and procedural outcomes of Professor Chen Mao's team, considering "Chinese products" and "Chinese technology" to provide more advanced and effective treatment options for global mitral valve disease patients. Professor Chen Mao stated that Chinese high-end medical devices are in a period of accelerated technology transformation, and in the global medical technology field, China’s capabilities are becoming an innovative force that cannot be ignored.

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The DragonFly™, after nearly a decade of development, was approved for market launch by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in November 2023, becoming the first domestic transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair product via the transfemoral approach that was approved in China. In February 2024, the one-year follow-up results of the DragonFly™ trial were published in EuroIntervention, the leading journal in the field of cardiovascular intervention. The trial results fully validated the safety, effectiveness, and manipulability of the device.

 

Professor Chen Mao's team from West China Hospital’s Cardiology Department has rich experience in transcatheter valve intervention and has conducted transcatheter interventions for all heart valves. The team's technical level is leading in China and at an internationally advanced level in several fields. This trip to Russia to conduct transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair further proves the mature experience and first-class standards of West China Hospital's Cardiology Department in the field of transcatheter mitral valve repair.