Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences – National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases

FUWAI Hospital, CAMS & PUMC, is a national Grade III Level A specialized cardiovascular hospital that integrates medical care, teaching, research, and prevention . It is a designated specialized hospital under the national medical insurance system and one of the first batch of “mentoring-type” National Medical Centers in China . It is located at 167 Beilishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing . The current president is Hu Shengshou.

1In 1956, the hospital’s predecessor, the People’s Liberation Army Thoracic Hospital, was established in Heishanhu. In 1958, the hospital was transferred to local administration and relocated to Fuchengmenwai, becoming part of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and renamed the “Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Fuchengmenwai Hospital.” In 1962, the hospital also took on the name “Institute of Cardiovascular and Circulatory Diseases,” forming an integrated hospital-institute model as a specialized cardiovascular hospital. In 1994, the Fuwai Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was renamed the Fuwai Hospital of Cardiovascular Diseases of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2004, the Research Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases under the Ministry of Health was established. In 2009, the Central Organization Department approved the establishment of the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases. In 2011, the State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases was established at Fuwai Hospital. In 2013, the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases officially commenced full-scale operations under its new leadership. In 2014, the Fuwai Hospital of Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, was renamed Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. On March 18, 2016, the Fuwai Hospital (Video) Academy was formally established. On April 30, 2020, the hospital implemented a fully online process featuring “online application + online payment + home delivery of medications.”

As of December 31, 2020, the hospital had 3,571 employees, including 1,440 professionals with intermediate or senior professional titles. As of July 2025, the hospital occupied approximately 55,000 square meters and had 41 wards with 1,403 available beds.

Medical Treatment

The Department of Cardiology at Fuwai Hospital is a leading institution in the field of cardiovascular medicine in China. It comprises several subspecialty centers and provides comprehensive medical care:

• Diagnosis and Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease: We have the most advanced coronary intervention system in the country, including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), drug-eluting balloons, rotational atherectomy, and precision interventions guided by intravascular imaging (IVUS/OCT). Our annual procedure volume consistently ranks first nationwide.
• Diagnosis and Treatment of Arrhythmias: Our services include radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, left atrial appendage occlusion, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and the implantation of various pacemakers and ICDs. We are at the forefront of international standards, particularly in the field of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias.
• Interventional treatments for structural heart disease—including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), transcatheter mitral valve repair/replacement (TEER), pulmonary valve interventions, and occlusion of patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial septal defects (ASD), and ventricular septal defects (VSD)—are well-established minimally invasive techniques, and we are pioneers and leaders in this field in China.
• Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy: We operate a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CCU) that provides standardized medical therapy, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and device-assisted treatment for advanced heart failure, and we have a comprehensive follow-up management system for heart failure patients.
• Hypertension and Lipid Management: We are responsible for developing and promoting national strategies for the prevention and control of hypertension, conducting screenings for secondary hypertension, providing comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for resistant hypertension, and implementing precision lipid management.

Surgical treatment

The Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Fuwai Hospital is one of the pioneering institutions in China’s field of cardiovascular surgery and is often referred to as the “Whampoa Military Academy” of Chinese cardiovascular surgery:

• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): We routinely perform both cardiopulmonary bypass and off-pump (beating heart) bypass surgeries, with both our surgical volume and success rates ranking among the highest in the country. We achieve significant long-term outcomes for patients with complex multivessel disease.
• Cardiac Valve Surgery: Our services encompass valvuloplasty (repair) and valve replacement for the mitral, aortic, and tricuspid valves, with extensive experience in the use of both biological and mechanical valves. In recent years, the proportion of minimally invasive valve surgeries (thoracoscopic/minimally invasive) has continued to rise.
• Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: Our services cover surgeries for all age groups, ranging from complex congenital heart defects in newborns (such as transposition of the great arteries, Tetralogy of Fallot, and single ventricle) to congenital heart defects in adults. We are a leading center in China for the surgical treatment of congenital heart disease.
• Great Vessel Surgery: We perform emergency and elective surgeries for critical conditions such as aortic dissection and aortic aneurysms, including highly complex procedures such as ascending aortic replacement, total aortic arch replacement, and elephant trunk stenting (Sun’s procedure). Our success rates in treating these conditions are among the highest in the country.
• Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support: As one of the earliest institutions in China to perform heart transplants, the department also provides mechanical circulatory support, including ECMO and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), offering bridge therapy or long-term support for patients with end-stage heart failure.
• Minimally Invasive and Robotic Cardiac Surgery: The department performs various cardiac surgeries assisted by thoracoscopy, as well as coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgeries assisted by the Da Vinci robotic system, offering minimal trauma and rapid recovery.