China's Top Departments: Cardiology at Shanghai Children's Medical Center
National Children's Medical Center · National Key Clinical Specialty · One of the World's Largest Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease Centers
If your child has a congenital heart disease (CHD) or other cardiovascular condition, Shanghai Children's Medical Center's Heart Center is one of the world's leading pediatric cardiology centers. Established in 1974 and relocated to its current Pudong campus in 1999, the Heart Center has over 50 years of excellence in diagnosing and treating pediatric heart conditions.
The numbers tell the story: 5,960 surgeries and interventions annually (3,688 surgical + 2,272 interventional), 98% overall surgical success rate, and >90% success rate for complex/critical CHD cases like transposition of great arteries and single ventricle. This is one of the world's largest pediatric congenital heart disease centers, handling approximately 200 beds across the Heart Center.
Ranked 4th globally in Congenital Heart Disease Research Academic Impact (2022) and #1 nationally in pediatric cardiology by Haodf.com for six consecutive years, this is where China's most complex pediatric cardiac cases are treated — with outcomes that match or exceed top international centers.
At ChinaMed Select, we help international families connect with SCMC's Heart Center for complex pediatric cardiac conditions. Here's what you need to know.
Signature Strengths
Comprehensive Pediatric Cardiac Care
The Heart Center offers the full spectrum of pediatric cardiovascular care:
- Interventional treatment of congenital heart disease (including hybrid surgical-interventional procedures)
- Radiofrequency ablation for pediatric tachyarrhythmias
- Pacemaker implantation for pediatric bradyarrhythmias (including leadless pacemakers)
- Advanced echocardiography (3D, transesophageal, fetal echocardiography)
- Pediatric pulmonary hypertension diagnosis and management
- Pediatric cardiomyopathy diagnosis and management
- Precision diagnosis and treatment of rare cardiovascular diseases in children
- Kawasaki disease diagnosis and management
- Pediatric infective endocarditis diagnosis and management
- Innovative technologies: leadless pacemaker implantation, reverse aortopulmonary shunt, integrated prenatal-postnatal management of fetal heart disease
Unmatched Interventional Volume
The cardiology department performs:
- ~1,800 cardiac catheterizations annually — nearly 90% interventional
- This is the highest interventional catheterization volume among all children's hospitals in China
- 60,000+ echocardiograms annually
The department is the only children's hospital in China designated by the Ministry of Health to provide interventional cardiology training for congenital heart disease.
Heart Center Performance (2024)
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Outpatient visits | 57,450 |
| Hospitalized patients | 6,529 |
| Total surgeries & interventions | 5,960 |
| Surgical procedures | 3,688 |
| Interventional procedures | 2,272 |
| Overall success rate | 98% |
| Complex/critical CHD success rate | >90% |
What this means for you: High volume translates to expertise. The Heart Center's teams perform these procedures every day — they've seen the full spectrum of pediatric cardiac conditions and know how to handle even the most complex cases.
Meet the Experts
Department Leadership
| Name | Title | Specialization |
|---|---|---|
| Prof. LI Fen | Chief Physician, Director | 30+ years experience. Performs 500+ cardiac interventions, 200+ RF ablations, 50+ pacemaker implantations annually. |
| Prof. FU Lijun | Chief Physician, Department Head | 3,000+ CHD interventions. Expertise in cardiomyopathy, pulmonary hypertension, rare cardiovascular diseases. |
| Prof. GAO Wei | Chief Physician | Senior expert in CHD interventional treatment. |
| Prof. SHEN Jie | Chief Physician | Non-surgical CHD intervention, Kawasaki disease standardized care. |
| Prof. ZHANG Yuqi | Chief Physician | Transthoracic/transesophageal/3D echocardiography, fetal echocardiography. |
| Prof. LIU Tingliang | Chief Physician | 3,000+ catheterization procedures, 20+ years clinical experience. |
The cardiology team comprises 21 physicians, with 85.7% holding graduate degrees (10 PhDs, 8 master's). Faculty includes 11 chief/associate chief physicians, 4 PhD supervisors, and 3 master's supervisors.
Hospital Leadership in Cardiovascular Care
Dr. ZHANG Hao, MD, PhD — President of SCMC
- Director, Shanghai Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease Institute
- National Distinguished Young Scientist Fund recipient
- National Science & Technology Progress Award (Second Class, 2021)
- Publications in Science Translational Medicine, Circulation, European Heart Journal, Lancet Child & Adolescent Health
Prof. ZHANG Haibo — Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Recipient of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association "Golden Scalpel Award"
- Performs 3,700+ surgeries annually with >90% success rate for complex CHD
Research & International Recognition
The Heart Center is a research powerhouse:
- Ranked 4th globally in Congenital Heart Disease Research Academic Impact (2022)
- Over 20 national and provincial research grants (6 NSFC projects, 2 National 863 Programs, 1 National 973 Program)
- Multiple National Science & Technology Progress Awards, Shanghai Science & Technology Progress Awards
- High-impact publications in European Heart Journal, Circulation, Science Translational Medicine, Journal of Clinical Investigation
International Collaboration
SCMC's Heart Center maintains partnerships with the world's leading pediatric cardiology centers:
- 🇺🇸 Boston Children's Hospital (Harvard Medical School)
- 🇺🇸 Nationwide Children's Hospital (Columbus) & Cincinnati Children's Hospital
- 🇨🇦 The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto)
- 🇬🇧 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (London)
- Collaborative relationships with 30+ international medical institutions across 10+ countries
- 8 international joint laboratories/centers established
- First children's hospital in China to receive JCI International Hospital Accreditation (2010)
The center leads the National Children's Medical Center Cardiovascular Specialty Alliance and drives regional medical center development in Guizhou, Fujian, Hainan, and Shandong provinces.
What International Families Should Know
Language & Support
Shanghai Children's Medical Center has experience serving international families. English-speaking coordinators can be arranged. For pediatric cardiology — where precise communication about your child's condition, surgical options, and post-operative care is critical — we strongly recommend working with a bilingual medical coordinator.
Appointment Process
- Appointments can be made via the hospital's official channels or through a medical coordinator
- For new patients, the typical timeline from initial consultation to procedure is 1–3 weeks (depending on case complexity and urgency)
- The Heart Center's high volume means efficient scheduling
- Complex cases may require additional pre-operative evaluation and multidisciplinary consultation
Cost Estimates
Pediatric cardiac care costs vary based on procedure complexity. Here are general ranges:
| Procedure | Estimated Cost (CNY) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial pediatric cardiology consultation | ¥300–800 | $42–110 |
| Comprehensive cardiac workup (echo, cath) | ¥8,000–25,000 | $1,100–3,500 |
| Simple CHD intervention (catheter-based) | ¥30,000–60,000 | $4,200–8,400 |
| Complex CHD surgery (e.g., Tetralogy of Fallot) | ¥80,000–150,000 | $11,000–21,000 |
| Radiofrequency ablation | ¥40,000–80,000 | $5,500–11,000 |
| Pacemaker implantation | ¥50,000–120,000 | $7,000–17,000 |
| PICU stay (per day) | ¥5,000–15,000 | $700–2,100 |
These are estimates. Actual costs depend on your child's specific condition, procedure complexity, ICU stay length, and any complications. International families should budget for follow-up visits.
Getting There
| Campus | Address |
|---|---|
| Lujiazui Campus (Main) | No. 1678 Dongfang Road, Pudong, Shanghai |
| Zhangjiang Campus | Tianxiong Road, Pudong, Shanghai |
Most international patients are seen at the Lujiazui Campus, which houses the main Heart Center.
How ChinaMed Select Can Help
Your child's heart condition is frightening — especially in a foreign healthcare system. ChinaMed Select ensures you're fully supported:
- Expert Matching: Whether it's a complex CHD, arrhythmia, pulmonary hypertension, or rare cardiovascular disease, we connect you with the subspecialist who handles your child's exact condition
- Medical Record Preparation: Pediatric cardiac consultations require detailed imaging (echocardiograms, MRI/CT), catheterization reports, genetic test results, and growth charts. We help you organize and translate everything so the team can review your child's case efficiently
- Appointment Coordination: We handle scheduling directly with the Heart Center
- Certified Medical Translation: Pediatric cardiology involves complex discussions about anatomy, surgical options, risks, and long-term outcomes. Our translators ensure you understand every detail
- Family Support: We understand that traveling internationally for your child's heart treatment is stressful. From airport pickup in Shanghai to family-friendly hotel arrangement, interpreter presence at every appointment, and post-operative follow-up coordination, we handle logistics so you can focus on your child
Plan Your Visit
- Appointments: Hospital official channels or through ChinaMed Select
- Lujiazui Campus (Main): No. 1678 Dongfang Road, Pudong, Shanghai
- Zhangjiang Campus: Tianxiong Road, Pudong, Shanghai
- Hospital Website: www.scmc.com.cn
Your child's heart deserves the best care. Contact ChinaMed Select for a free, personalized consultation. We'll review your child's cardiac condition and imaging, connect you with the right pediatric cardiology team at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, and coordinate your family's entire journey — from medical record translation to post-operative follow-up.
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