Dedicated cardiovascular surgeon helps hearts beat

Liu Xiaocheng (first from left) performs a minimally invasive operation to "install" an artificial heart into a patient. (CHINA DAILY)

Cardiovascular expert Liu Xiaocheng received a nomination for the Ninth National Moral Model award in May, in recognition of his four-decade-long dedication to China's cardiovascular field. A member of the Communist Party of China, Liu has exemplified both the compassion of a doctor and the responsibility of a Party member throughout his career.

One of the first medical experts to return to China after studying abroad during the reform and opening-up, Liu left Beijing for Heilongjiang province in 1987 to help establish the second specialized cardiovascular hospital in China — the Mudanjiang Cardiovascular Disease Hospital.

There, he performed more than 3,000 heart surgeries for patients from 23 provinces.

"In 1992 alone, we completed two heart transplants in six days. In December that year, we performed China's first combined heart-lung transplant, marking a milestone in the country's cardiovascular surgery history," said Liu, Party secretary and president of Tianjin TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital in Tianjin.

Holding a leadership position at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Liu made an unexpected decision in 2000 when he resigned from his position in Beijing to create TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital in Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, which was mostly desolate and full of saline-alkali soil.

By 2007, the hospital had launched cross-province medical insurance settlements. In 2017, it completed China's first direct medical insurance settlement for remote treatment. Now, TEDA Hospital is the only public hospital in the country that has fully implemented new healthcare reform, earning it the title of "pioneer in public hospital reform" from Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.

Liu has consistently emphasized early detection and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Under his leadership, TEDA was the first in China to conduct systematic screenings for congenital heart disease in children, covering over 1.4 million kilometers and screening 1.6 million children.

"We have also performed free corrective surgeries for congenital heart disease on 16,000 orphaned and disadvantaged children, setting a record for the most public welfare surgeries completed by a single hospital in China," Liu said.

Since 2009, Liu and his team have been working with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology to develop the third-generation full magnetic levitation artificial heart.

In 2013, an experimental sheep named "Tianjiu", implanted with a fully domestically developed artificial heart, survived 120 days, setting a national record at the time.

In 2022, the fully domestic artificial heart, named "Rocket Heart", was launched and has since saved over 200 patients with end-stage heart failure.

Liu's commitment to saving lives extends beyond the hospital.

In November 2023, while flying back to Beijing after providing surgical guidance in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Liu responded to an in-flight emergency. A woman was showing signs of a hypertensive crisis, with a heart rate of 120 and cyanosis on her face and fingers. As the patient was too overweight for the blood pressure cuff to fit, he cleverly used a seat belt to secure it. The reading was a dangerous 220/120 mmHg.

Despite cramped conditions, Liu assessed her condition, administered emergency medication, and stayed by her side until landing. "I just wanted to reassure her: 'Don't worry, you're safe with me here,'" he said.

In recent years, Liu has also embraced social media, using platforms like TikTok to share medical knowledge on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease prevention.

"Whether in the lab or the clinic, I'm willing to use every ounce of my energy to help those in need," Liu said.