The department of Radiology of FuWai cardiovascular Institute and hospital was founded in 1956. The functions of the department were cardiovascular diagnostic imaging, including X-ray, cardiac CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and catheterizations. The department was also equipped for clinical research and teaching. It was one of the major clinical and research centers named by the Ministry of Education of China.

 

There were 49 staff members in the department of radiology, including 20 radiologists, 13 technicians, 11 nurses and 5 administrators. Among the radiologists, professor Liu Yuqing is the faculty member of Chinese Academy of Engineering. He was the first director and chief radiologist who helped to found the cardiac imaging lab of FuWai hospital. Professor Dai Ruping is another well-known cardiac interventional expert who helped found the cath lab in the department. There are around 10 radiology fellows working in the clinics and in research now. More than 30 radiology fellows completed their post graduate training in the department. Each year, there are more than 20 cardiologists or radiologists work in the clinics to be visiting fellows who come from other hospitals in China. 

From its founding up until 25 years ago, the major clinical work in the department consisted of conventional X-ray examinations, X-ray scenography and barium and bronchial exams.  Cardiovascular angiography using Seldinger procedures were first done in the year of 1982.  Since then, especially in the recent 15 years, 25 new interventional procedures or catheterizations were performed on more than 3000 cases, for example, transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus ateriosus (PDA), atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), etc. Stenting procedures are also done in the cath lab, including tranvascular intraluminal aortic isolation (stenting) or peripherial vessel angioplasty. The procedure success rate is as high as 98% with the complication rate lower than 1.7%, and mortality lower than 0.1%.

 

Ten years ago, radiologists in the department started to use electron beam CT scanner (EBCT) and MRI to diagnose cardiac and vascular diseases. Up to now, 38,000 patients were scanned by EBCT and multidetector-row spiral CT (64 rows MDCT).  A total of 5000 patients were studied on the MRI scanner.

In 1997, our research studies called "Studies and Clinical Applications of Cardiovascular Interventional Catheterization" received a second place award from the government. This award is called "Award of Advancement in Science and Technology of China".  It also received the first place from the ministry of public health of China. Many other awards were granted for excellence in CT scanning.

 

A total of 23 grants were funded by the government, among them, the seventh, ninth and tenth "five-year plan" of China. More than 300 peer-review manuscripts were published in different kinds of journals. Among them, 20 SCI first author peer-reviewed papers were published, including 2 papers published in the international journal, Radiology. Eight books and many chapters were published.

 

Every year, the department of radiology sponsors and organizes international heart forums and continuous training programs. More than 1000 cardiologists and radiologists attend the conference each year.