Academic Symposium at Zhujiang Hospital Highlights Advances in Heart Failure Treatment with Extracorporeal VAD

On June 27, 2025, the Heart Failure Center of Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, hosted an academic symposium focused on the clinical application of extracorporeal ventricular assist devices (VADs) in heart failure treatment. The event, supported by the Cardiovascular Surgery Management Branch of the Guangdong Medical Association, brought together specialists from across cardiology, cardiac surgery, and critical care to exchange insights on multidisciplinary collaboration.

International Perspectives on Short-Term Mechanical Circulatory Support

Professor I-wen Wang from the U.S.  delivered a keynote lecture on “The Timing and Selection of Short-Term Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS).”

• He reviewed the development of short-term MCS in the U.S., noting that some devices originally designed for short-term use now show potential for mid- to longer-term support.

• Early intervention with MCS in patients with acute decompensated heart failure and cardiogenic shock was associated with improved outcomes, based on multi-center U.S. data.

• Device selection strategies in the U.S. take into account hemodynamics, organ function, and prognosis to match patients with options such as IABP, Impella, or ECMO.

Local Experience with Extracorporeal VAD

Two presentations from Guangdong institutions shared local practice and case insights:

• Professor Huang Jinsong (Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital) outlined the technical principles of the MoyoAssist extracorporeal VAD, illustrating potential applications through clinical case examples.

• Professor Wang Xiaowu (Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University) focused on its use in acute cardiogenic shock, emphasizing that extracorporeal VADs support a shift toward “precision circulatory support” based on dynamic assessment, precise intervention, and multidisciplinary teamwork.

Expert-Led Discussions

The meeting was co-chaired by Professor Xie Shaobo (Zhujiang Hospital), Professor Huang Jinsong, and Mr. Yang Shaoyan from magAssist. More than 30 additional experts—including Professor Lu Jun, Professor Luo Lin, Professor Liu Yunqi, Professor Shan Fei, and Professor Hu Mingsong—joined three panel sessions. Topics included:

• Technical and procedural challenges in extracorporeal VAD use

• Criteria for patient selection

• Strategies to strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration

Outlook

In his closing remarks, Professor Wang Xiaowu underlined that the effective use of extracorporeal VADs depends on coordinated efforts across surgery, intensive care, and imaging teams. By integrating international perspectives with local practice, the symposium provided new insights into advancing treatment strategies for cardiogenic shock.