Liangjiang hospital pioneers LVA surgery

81-year-old Lin Shuying halted her battle with Alzheimer's through a recent deep lymphatic-venous anastomosis (LVA) surgery, a minimally invasive microsurgical procedure offering hopes for millions like Lin. 

The procedure creates a conduit in the neck, connecting lymphatic channels to the venous system. This clears toxic proteins that lead to Alzheimer's and alleviates symptoms, explained Shi Shugui, director of the Neurology Department at Chongqing Songshan General Hospital in Liangjiang New Area.

Performing LVA surgery to treat Alzheimer's was first proposed in 2018 by Professor Xie Qingping from Qiushi Hospital in Hangzhou. Xie built his theory on a Nature study that discovered the central nervous system's lymphatic network, which connects to deep cervical lymph nodes and clears brain waste. 

In March 2025, Chongqing Songshan Hospital became one of China's first LVA surgical centers for treating Alzheimer's. To date, the team has performed nearly 20 surgeries with promising early outcomes.

The medical team performed LVA surgery using a high-powered operating microscope. [Photo by Chongqing Songshan General Hospital] 

"Results exceeded expectations," said Lin's daughter Liu Mingshan. Before Alzheimer's eroded Lin's memory and self-care abilities nearly five years ago, she had been competent. "She once came to my workplace crying, saying she felt like she was 'turning into a fool'," the daughter recalled. 

Liu's greatest fear was that her mother would lose independence and still refuse nursing home care before her retirement. "After the surgery, she regained mental clarity. I'll be content if she remains stable until I retire to care for her," Lin said.

Despite encouraging results, some medical professionals remain cautious. Xing Yan, deputy director of the Chinese Society of Microcirculation Neurodegenerative Diseases Committee (CSMNDDC), noted, "LVA surgery remains clinically exploratory, requiring further validation of long-term efficacy and applicable patient profiles."

Statistics from Alzheimer's International show that dementia affected over 55 million people in 2020, and the number is projected to reach 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 50 percent to 75 percent of all cases.

Alzheimer's challenges both patients and their caregivers, and we hope the surgery can help them improve their quality of life, said Shi Shugui.