Hepatobiliary · Transplant

Liver Transplantation World #1 · 7 world firsts

Taiwan's living-donor liver transplant program holds seven surgical world firsts and consistently achieves 5-year survival rates above UNOS and ELTR benchmarks for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

90%
Living-donor LT 5-yr survival (HCC)
2,500+
Cumulative transplant cases
400+
Physicians trained
Liver Transplantation
Hepatobiliary · Transplant
The Challenge

Clinical pain points — and how we solve them.

CHALLENGE / 01PROBLEM
Millimeter-level Precision
Even minimal deviation may result in incomplete lesions, recurrence, or myocardial injury.
Breakthrough
Prof. Chen's team established precision-guided AF ablation workflows and pioneered frequency-spectrum signal analysis to improve trigger localisation and lesion accuracy within 2 mm.
CHALLENGE / 02PROBLEM
Mapping a Moving Target
Continuous cardiac motion and blood flow make stable catheter positioning and precise pulmonary-vein localisation highly challenging.
Breakthrough
Prof. Chen's team helped establish pulmonary veins as a primary AF trigger source and developed systematic Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI) strategies. The landmark 1999 Circulation paper has been cited over 1,157× worldwide.
CHALLENGE / 03PROBLEM
Precise Energy Delivery
Effective AF ablation requires precise real-time control of lesion depth, overlap, and energy delivery.
Breakthrough
VGHPE developed integrated workflows for real-time signal interpretation, lesion overlap control, AI-assisted mapping, and 3D navigation. Complication rate: 2.59% vs global average 4.54%.
CHALLENGE / 04PROBLEM
Recurrent AF Remains Challenging
Persistent AF frequently involves complex non-pulmonary-vein trigger sites that are difficult to identify and ablate completely.
Breakthrough
The Taipei Approach introduced systematic non-PV trigger mapping strategies for complex AF ablation. Clinical outcomes achieved ~80% success in paroxysmal AF and 65–75% in persistent AF.
Outcomes

Complication rates vs. international published data.

VGHPE · 3-year registry
2.59%
Total complication rate across all AF ablation procedures.
Intl. studies
4.54%
Reported in the worldwide survey of catheter-ablation outcomes.
Cardiac tamponade
0.46%
VGHPE rate (vs 1.31% intl) — a 65% reduction.
Stroke incidence
0.15%
VGHPE post-ablation stroke rate (vs 0.23% intl).
Complication categoryVGHPEIntl.
Complication categoryVGHPEIntl.
Mortality0%0.15%
Pneumothorax0%0.09%
Hemothorax0%0.02%
Sepsis · abscess · endocarditis0%0.01%
Permanent diaphragmatic paralysis0%0.17%
Femoral pseudoaneurysm1.07%0.93%
Arteriovenous fistula0.61%0.54%
Valve injury requiring surgery0%0.07%
Atrio-esophageal fistula0%0.04%
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)0.30%0.71%
PV stenosis (requiring treatment)0%0.29%

Reference

Global Impact

From Taipei to 19 countries.

Discovery of Non-PV AF Triggers
From landmark discoveries to the world's first AF ablation textbook
Established the scientific foundation for modern AF ablation and the Taipei Approach.
Shaping Global AF Standards
37 textbooks · 3 guideline editions
Contributed to international AF guidelines and major electrophysiology textbooks.
Training the Next Generation
500+ specialists · 19 countries · 72 centers
Built one of Asia's largest international electrophysiology training networks.
Advancing AF Ablation Worldwide
Mayo Clinic · Johns Hopkins · 20+ countries
Invited globally to demonstrate AF ablation techniques and support local AF program development.
Get in touch

Shaping the Future of Liver Transplantation.

Collaborate in research, innovation, education, and clinical practice with a team that helped define modern AF treatment.

Shih-Ann Chen
Shih-Ann Chen, M.D.
Honorary Superintendent · Taichung Veterans General Hospital
Li-Wei Lo
Li-Wei Lo, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology & Arrhythmia · Cardiovascular Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Areas of collaboration
Patient Referral
Direct referrals and international care coordination
International Patient Services
Dedicated international patient intake and care coordination
Physician Training
Fellowships, observerships, and structured training courses
Clinical Trial
Multi-site trial participation, site selection, and trial management
Industry Partnership
Technology transfer, joint R&D, and commercial collaboration