Orthopedics

Minimally Invasive Foot & Ankle Surgery World first · FDA recognised

Pioneering minimally invasive techniques for foot and ankle pathology achieving world-record incision size and a complication rate 94% lower than conventional open surgery.

0.9%
Complication rate (open surgery: 15%)
0.8–1 cm
Smallest incision (world record)
170+
International surgeons trained
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 Minimally Invasive Foot & Ankle Surgery.

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