Italian family praises Chongqing children's hospital for heart surgery

Zaria and her parents express their gratitude to Li Yonggang. [Photo provided to english.liangjiang.gov.cn]

Doctor Li Yonggang, a distinguished cardiothoracic surgeon at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, recently received a heartfelt thank-you video from the family of Zaria, a young Italian patient.

In the video, Zaria's seven siblings expressed their gratitude in Chinese, chanting, "Thank you, Dr Li Yonggang! Li Yonggang, Li Yonggang!"

The family, who has lived in Chongqing for 10 years, faced a daunting challenge when prenatal examinations revealed that Zaria, their eighth child, had a rare congenital heart defect known as pulmonary artery sling.

Zaria's mother consulted with Li for a fetal assessment. "A pulmonary artery sling requires surgical intervention once diagnosed," Li said. This rare condition involves the abnormal development of the left pulmonary artery, which originates from the posterior wall of the right pulmonary artery and loops behind the trachea, compressing it like a "sling".

Further examinations showed that the fetus did not have an associated "O" type complete tracheal cartilage ring, and the tracheal narrowing symptoms were relatively mild. Li reassured the family, saying, "Rest assured, your baby can be safely delivered. Our surgical techniques are modern and safe."

The couple explored the best treatment options, consulting experts across China and even visiting top children's hospitals in Rome, Italy. After thorough comparisons, they chose to proceed with the surgery in Chongqing.

Following Zaria's birth, she regularly attended follow-up appointments with Li, showing positive health indicators. The decision for surgery was made when she was nearly one year old.

Traditional corrective surgery for pulmonary artery sling involves a median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. However, Li's team employed a minimally invasive approach using a left thoracic small incision, avoiding sternotomy and bypass.

This approach significantly reduces trauma and conceals the incision, preventing post-operative complications such as pectus carinatum or funnel chest.

To ensure safety during surgery, the team conducted a preoperative safety test. Anesthesiologists used right lung single-lung ventilation to simulate the patient's condition after the left pulmonary artery is severed. Only after confirming stable vital signs did the surgeons proceed with the operation.

Zaria recovered swiftly and was discharged on the sixth day post-surgery. "Hospital staff demonstrated exceptional professionalism, and we are grateful to Li for his dedication and meticulous care for our child," said Zaria's father.

As a token of their heartfelt gratitude, he creatively altered Li's English name to "Li Yongbang", meaning "forever the best".