Peking University, May 19, 2025: Professor Ling Yunpeng and his team from Peking University Third Hospital took center stage at the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), presenting four keynote speeches that drew widespread international attention to China’s growing leadership in cardiothoracic innovation.

Among the highlights was the team’s cutting-edge research on robot-assisted Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). Their technique, which integrates robotic artery harvesting with direct microscopic anastomosis, significantly reduces the complexity and duration of multi-vessel bypass procedures—now achievable in just three hours. Educational videos of the procedure have already garnered more than 500,000 views online.

Clinical data shared at the conference revealed that the arterial revascularization method, supported by the da Vinci surgical robot, achieved a perioperative mortality rate of less than 1% and a graft patency rate of 97.3%—well above the standard outcomes of conventional open-chest surgery.

Professor Ling Yunpeng (Third from the left) engaged in academic exchanges with his international peers

The Left Chest Small Incision CABG method, developed and refined by Ling’s team over the past 13 years, has become a cornerstone of minimally invasive heart surgery in China. At PKU Third Hospital, 90% of bypass patients now avoid open-chest operations, with the average postoperative hospital stay reduced by 40% and a five-year survival rate reaching 91.2%.

The technique has been included in clinical treatment guidelines in several countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, underscoring China’s emergence as a contributor—not just a recipient—of global medical technology.

In another key achievement, Ling’s team introduced the QFR (Quantitative Flow Ratio) three-dimensional hemodynamic evaluation system, which enables non-invasive assessment of coronary artery function. The technology supports personalized revascularization planning, paving the way for more precise and effective surgical strategies for coronary artery disease.

Professor Ling Yunpeng and fellow attendees at the AATS Annual Meeting

The AATS Annual Meeting, recognized as the world’s foremost academic forum in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, brought together over 2,000 professionals from more than 60 countries this year. Professor Ling’s contributions placed Chinese surgical innovation firmly in the global spotlight.

Written by: Wong Jun Heng
Edited by: Sean Tan
Source: PKU News (Chinese)