Professor Chen Yundai: Intravascular Imaging and Calcified Coronary Disease Specialist
Professor Chen Yundai is a senior cardiologist, professor, doctoral supervisor, and director of the Cardiovascular Medicine Center at the Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing. Her clinical and academic work focuses on complex coronary intervention, OCT and IVUS intravascular imaging, heavily calcified coronary disease, rotational atherectomy, intravascular lithotripsy, and integrated management of coronary disease with chronic conditions.
International patients can learn more about the hospital and cardiovascular services in our Chinese PLA General Hospital international patient guide.
Clinical and Academic Focus
- complex coronary artery disease;
- left-main and bifurcation lesions;
- heavily calcified coronary stenosis;
- OCT- and IVUS-guided intervention;
- rotational atherectomy;
- intravascular lithotripsy;
- stent failure and restenosis;
- coronary disease with diabetes or kidney disease; and
- second opinions before high-risk PCI.
Complex Coronary Intervention
Percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI, uses catheters, balloons, and stents to restore blood flow through narrowed coronary arteries. Complex procedures may involve the left main artery, bifurcations, long lesions, severe calcification, chronic total occlusion, or previously treated segments.
The decision between PCI, coronary bypass surgery, and medical treatment depends on symptoms, ischemia, coronary anatomy, heart function, diabetes, surgical risk, and patient goals. A multidisciplinary heart-team review is valuable when more than one strategy is reasonable.
OCT and IVUS
Optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound image the coronary artery from inside the vessel. They can clarify lesion structure, calcium, vessel size, plaque distribution, stent expansion, edge injury, and the cause of stent failure.
Imaging guidance may improve planning and optimization in selected complex procedures. OCT provides very high resolution but usually requires contrast, while IVUS penetrates deeper and can be useful in large vessels and patients where contrast volume is a concern.
Calcified Coronary Disease
Severe calcium can prevent balloons and stents from expanding fully. Underexpanded stents increase the risk of restenosis and thrombosis.
Treatment may use high-pressure or specialty balloons, rotational or orbital atherectomy, laser in selected cases, intravascular lithotripsy, or a combination guided by imaging. The choice depends on calcium depth, thickness, distribution, and whether a stent is already present.
Rotational Atherectomy
Rotational atherectomy uses a rapidly rotating burr to modify hard calcified plaque and allow device passage or lesion expansion. It can be effective in selected lesions but carries risks such as slow flow, vessel injury, burr entrapment, and perforation.
Careful wire selection, burr sizing, technique, hemodynamic assessment, and imaging are important for safety.
Intravascular Lithotripsy
Intravascular lithotripsy uses acoustic pressure waves from a balloon catheter to fracture coronary calcium. It can facilitate vessel and stent expansion with a technique similar to balloon angioplasty.
Professor Chen led research on intravascular lithotripsy for severely calcified coronary disease in Chinese patients, including the SOLSTICE trial. Device availability and eligibility depend on current hospital and regulatory conditions.
Stent Failure
Recurrent narrowing or clotting within a stent can result from underexpansion, neoatherosclerosis, tissue growth, fracture, edge disease, or interruption of antiplatelet treatment. Intravascular imaging can identify the mechanism and guide treatment.
Repeating ballooning or adding another stent without understanding the cause can produce an inadequate result.
Coronary Disease and Chronic Conditions
Diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, lipid disorders, smoking, and frailty affect both procedural risk and long-term outcome. Successful PCI does not replace preventive medication, rehabilitation, and risk-factor control.
Who May Consider a Consultation?
- patients with severe or heavily calcified coronary disease;
- patients with left-main, bifurcation, or other complex anatomy;
- patients whose previous PCI could not cross or expand a lesion;
- patients with restenosis or thrombosis inside a stent;
- patients comparing PCI and bypass surgery;
- patients with coronary disease plus diabetes or kidney disease;
- patients advised to undergo atherectomy or lithotripsy; or
- patients seeking a second opinion before high-risk coronary intervention.
Medical Records to Prepare
- a concise cardiac symptom and treatment timeline;
- coronary angiography in original DICOM format;
- OCT and IVUS recordings with reports;
- coronary CT and functional ischemia testing;
- echocardiography and cardiac MRI when available;
- all previous PCI reports with stent type, size, and location;
- recent blood count, kidney and liver function, lipids, glucose, and cardiac biomarkers;
- bleeding, stroke, and contrast-reaction history;
- a complete medication list, especially antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs; and
- a clear list of treatment goals and questions.
Planning an International Consultation
Ongoing chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, shock, or suspected heart attack requires immediate local emergency care. International travel must not delay urgent treatment.
Stable patients should confirm whether original angiography and intravascular imaging can be reviewed. Remote medical-record review requires physician authorization. Final procedure eligibility, technique, and cost require complete assessment by the treating team.
How CMCS Can Assist
CMCS – China Medical Concierge Shanghai is an independent medical concierge and health management company, not a hospital. We assist international patients with organizing and translating cardiovascular records, identifying an appropriate specialist, requesting appointment availability, arranging interpretation, and planning medical travel in China.
Access to Professor Chen, remote review, PCI, rotational atherectomy, lithotripsy, or a specific device is subject to doctor and hospital approval. CMCS does not guarantee appointments, procedure eligibility, device availability, or clinical outcomes.
- Email: contract@medicalsh.com
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Important Note
Doctor titles, clinical roles, devices, procedures, and appointment arrangements may change. This profile is based on the supplied verified research document and is for general information only. It does not replace assessment by a qualified interventional cardiology team.
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