Xiangbin Pan - Percutaneous and Non-fluoroscopical (PAN) Procedure for Structural Heart Disease

The rapid evolution of transcatheter therapies for structural heart disease (SHD) often requires expensive and advanced technology which may be available in only a limited number of academic centers. The lack of trained multidisciplinary specialists in SHD combined with suboptimal technical facilities in many institutions has created an access-to-care crisis. This dilemma is accentuated in developing countries, they have the special challenge of managing healthcare for vast numbers of patients in rural locations. Therefore, Chinese physician leaders have been encouraged to develop innovative cost-effective solutions to provide optimal care for a growing number of patients with severe SHD syndromes.

Prof. Xiangbin Pan, from the National Center of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital in China, has authored a novel textbook entitledPercutaneous and Non-fluoroscopical Procedure for Structural Heart Diseasewhich was first published in China in 2016 and republished in 2018. In this textbook, Dr. Pan offers what may be an important step forward in the healthcare management of SHD patients by describing in detail the techniques for performing non-fluoroscopic, echocardiographic-guided procedures including: atrial and ventricular septal defect occlusion, patent ductus arteriosus occlusion, transcatheter aortic valve implantation, percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy, pulmonary valvuloplasty for pulmonic stenosis, dilatation of coarctation of the aorta, and closure of the left atrial appendage. His novel approach to SHD interventions using echocardiographic guidance without the requirement of fluoroscopic imaging or a conventional catheterization laboratory has the potential to importantly expand accessibility for patients, will significantly decrease economic expenditures, reduce complications associated with iodinated contrast agents, and eliminate exposure of the patient and structural heart team to unnecessary radiation. Transcatheter therapy for SHD is among the fastest growing subspecialties in cardiovascular medicine. An essential component has been multi-modality noninvasive imaging for diagnosis, procedure guidance, and follow-up. Dr. Pan has cultivated a unique skill and makes a strong case to further elevate echo guidance for SHD procedures, as demonstrated clearly in his latest textbook edition. With the supportive contribution from ACC and SCAI, experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Japan for translating the book