The National Taiwan University (NTU) cardiac treatment team, headed by award-winning Taiwanese pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Jou-Kou Wang, will train Filipino physicians in non-surgical valve replacement to help the Philippines provide better care for children with heart disease.

Patients with congenital heart disease, such as Tetralogy of Fallot, often have blue lips from birth due to heart problems.

While corrective surgery can improve their condition, residual complications from valve regurgitation may lead to issues, such as cardiac enlargement, right heart failure, arrhythmia, and even sudden death.

Approximately 20 percent to 30 percent of these children require pulmonary valve replacement surgery, but many have already undergone two to three open-heart surgeries, making them face significant risks with another operation.

Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement allows valve replacement without surgery, reducing risks and shortening hospital stays.

Wang, who is also the CEO of the Cardiac Children’s Foundation, received the CSI Lifetime Achievement Award for this technique.

Under his guidance, the team at NTU Children’s Hospital has successfully treated more than a hundred patients since 2015, leading in results across Asian countries.

This year, the NTU cardiac treatment team, sponsored by the Rotary Club’s International Service Project, will share this new technique with Filipino doctors to treat more children with congenital heart disease.

Wang will lead the medical team to perform actual surgeries at the Philippine Heart Center in Manila in early June.

In addition to treating three children on-site, local doctors can also learn and gain experience.

The Rotary Club of Taipei North and the NTU medical team officially signed a cooperation agreement at the Philippine Heart Center on May 6.

Lin Zhenbang, the District Governor-elect of Rotary District 3521, and members of the medical team including Wang, signed the deal with local representatives in the presence of Deputy Representative Deng-shi Yang from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines.

The Cardiac Children’s Foundation Taiwan, which has helped more than 6,800 children with heart disease with medical expenses since its establishment in 1971, will implement the medical service project. (PNA)