Dr Lexin Wang, who was attending the first international conference on Long QT syndromes in Beijing, worked side-by-side with thoracic surgeons from Taiwan and Peking universities to perform a sympathectomy on four patients with life-threatening Long QT syndrome – the first operation of its kind in the world.

Dr Wang said the heart condition can often go unnoticed and is more prevalent in children, with frequent blackouts a symptom. The operations were broadcast live to the conference and featured in two major national Chinese newspapers.

“One of the patients was only six years old with frequent blackouts weeks before the surgery – none have been reported four weeks after the operation,” Dr Wang said. 

“We have seen an immediate reversal of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities. It’s a huge progression in the overall treatment and management of this condition.”

During his month-long trip, Dr Wang was also a keynote speaker at Nanjing Medical University and at the Annual Conference of the Taian Cardiac Society.

Dr Wang visited Nanhua University in Hunan Province where he discussed future research collaborations with key researchers at the First Clinical School, the Cardiovascular Research Institute and the Research Institute of Pharmacology.

He also discussed future research collaboration projects with key researchers at the Weifang Medical College in Shandong Province – an institution from which he graduated 16 years ago.