New Equipment Helping Children with Heart Issues in China

Song, a 13- year old girl in China, grew up with the dream of being a fashion designer, envisioning models wearing dresses she designed.

Unfortunately, a heart condition stood in the way of her dream. Song suffered from tachycardia, which causes an abnormally fast resting heart rate.

She was admitted to the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center (SCMC) after dealing with a heart palpitation for over six months. She was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy after an electrocardiogram showed a first-degree atrioventricular block.

Dr. Li Feng, director of SCMC’s cardiology department, found that the Song’s tachycardia was caused by the blockage, determined the only way to improve the cardiac function would be ablation of the atrial tachycardia to restore the sinus rhythm of patient.

On September 26, 2017, SCMC’s medical team conducted a lectrophysiological examination and radiofrequency ablation. The team used a Three-Dimensional Electrophysiological Navigation System, to discover Song’s issues stemmed from the right upper pulmonary vein, a rare issue to see in a child that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.

This equipment for the system was donated through the funding support from USAID-ASHA, which has been enhancing the pediatric care at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center. Project HOPE requested the funding to support the rapidly increasing need for timely and efficient medical services for children like Song with cardiac disorders.

Two days after surgery, doctors ran a sinus cardiogram which revealed her heart rate had returned to normal. The news moved both of Song’s parents to tears. The news also gave Song the courage to share another part of her dream: Now healthy, she doesn’t just want to design dresses for others, she wants to model them herself.