China Medical University Hospital’s Innovative Heart Surgery Restores Health for Guam Patient

A patient from Guam, Diana, has long suffered from atrial fibrillation, causing her difficulty breathing and limiting her daily life. This past June, during lunch, she experienced an episode of atrial fibrillation, with irregular heartbeats lasting over an hour, which impacted her daily life and work significantly. Although she sought treatment in Guam, including taking anticoagulants and using a smartwatch to monitor her heart, she continued to experience prolonged episodes lasting up to 15 hours, with her health deteriorating further. Her local doctor recommended a left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) procedure to lower her stroke risk, but this option was unavailable in Guam.

The heart team at China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) developed an innovative one-stop surgery combining atrial fibrillation ablation with LAAC, greatly reducing the risk of stroke. Cardiology physicians Dr. Wei-Hsin Chung, Dr.  Yen-Nien Lin, Superintendent Dr. Der-Yang Cho, and Vice Superintendnt Dr. Kuan-Cheng Chang joined with International Medical Center representatives to present the advanced procedure.

In hopes of improving her health, Diana traveled to Taiwan, where she received the one-stop procedure from the CMUH team led by Vice President of Internal Medicine, Dr. Kuan-Cheng Chang. The surgery was a success, resulting in quick recovery and significant improvements in her health. Her experience highlighted CMUH's patient-centered approach, combining advanced medical technology with compassionate care.

Dr. Kuan-Cheng Chang shared that about 230,000 people in Taiwan (roughly 1% of the population) are affected by atrial fibrillation, a common but potentially serious heart condition. It causes rapid, irregular heart rhythms leading to palpitations, dizziness, weakness, and shortness of breath. As the atria lose their ability to contract, blood can pool, forming clots that may block blood vessels and increase stroke risk, especially with age.

CMUH Superintendent Dr. Der-Yang Cho emphasized that the hospital’s new one-stop surgery allows patients to avoid a two-stage procedure, substantially lowering stroke risk and freeing them from long-term anticoagulant use, thereby improving quality of life.

Preventing cardiovascular issues involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise, balanced diet, and routine heart health check-ups. Early medical advice should be sought for irregular heartbeats to reduce the risk of future stroke or complications.

Diana is thrilled with her surgery outcome, stating, “I am so glad I chose CMUH’s heart team for my treatment and sincerely thank the International Medical Center for their arrangements and care.” From the moment she arrived, throughout the surgery and her hospital stay, she felt the team’s attentive care and professional treatment. Diana is now back in Guam and will have regular follow-ups to monitor her recovery.