Beijing Tiantan Hospital: Neurosurgery, Stroke Care and International Patient Guide

Beijing Tiantan Hospital: Neurosurgery, Stroke Care and International Patient Guide

Beijing Tiantan Hospital: A Guide for International Patients

Beijing Tiantan Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, is one of China’s best-known centers for neurological and neurosurgical care. The hospital treats complex conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, cerebral blood vessels, and nervous system, with particular expertise in cerebrovascular disease, stroke, brain tumors, and minimally invasive neurosurgery.

For international patients, Tiantan Hospital may be an important option when a neurological condition requires a senior specialist, advanced imaging review, multidisciplinary assessment, or a second opinion on surgery or stroke treatment.

Major Areas of Expertise

  • brain aneurysms and cerebral arteriovenous malformations;
  • intracerebral hemorrhage and other forms of hemorrhagic stroke;
  • acute ischemic stroke and secondary stroke prevention;
  • brain tumors and other intracranial lesions;
  • minimally invasive and complex neurosurgery;
  • neurovascular intervention and surgical treatment;
  • neurological rehabilitation planning; and
  • multidisciplinary evaluation of difficult neurological disorders.

The appropriate treatment may involve medication, microsurgery, endovascular intervention, rehabilitation, or a combination of approaches. Final recommendations depend on the diagnosis, timing, vascular anatomy, neurological status, and the patient’s overall health.

Professor Zhao Jizong

Professor Zhao Jizong is a neurosurgeon and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He serves as Academic Committee Director of the National Center for Neurological Disorders and Dean of the School of Neurosurgery at Capital Medical University.

His principal clinical areas include minimally invasive neurosurgery, cerebrovascular surgery, cerebral aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, surgical treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage, and operations for selected intracranial tumors.

Clinical and Research Contributions

Professor Zhao has led long-term national research programs in the surgical treatment of cerebrovascular disease. His work includes a multicenter randomized study examining early versus delayed aspirin use after surgery for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Published in The Lancet Neurology in 2024, the E-start study evaluated whether earlier antiplatelet treatment could be used safely after surgery in selected patients. Findings from a clinical trial should not be treated as a universal recommendation. The timing of aspirin or any blood-thinning medication must be decided by the treating physician according to bleeding risk, imaging, the reason for treatment, and the individual patient’s condition.

Professor Wang Yongjun

Professor Wang Yongjun is President of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, a senior neurologist, and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also a leading investigator in stroke prevention, clinical epidemiology, and large-scale neurological trials.

His work focuses on preventing recurrent ischemic stroke and disability, improving standardized stroke care, and identifying effective antiplatelet strategies for patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack.

CHANCE and CHANCE-2 Stroke Studies

Professor Wang led the influential CHANCE study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2013, which examined clopidogrel plus aspirin after acute minor stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack. He also led CHANCE-2, published in 2021, which compared ticagrelor with clopidogrel in selected patients carrying CYP2C19 loss-of-function variants.

These studies helped refine personalized antiplatelet treatment for certain stroke patients. However, dual antiplatelet therapy and genetic-guided treatment are not appropriate for everyone. Treatment choice and duration require medical review because antiplatelet medicines can increase bleeding risk.

Who May Benefit from an Evaluation?

A specialist review at Beijing Tiantan Hospital may be considered when a patient:

  • has a brain aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation, or other cerebrovascular lesion;
  • needs a second opinion before brain or cerebrovascular surgery;
  • has an intracranial tumor requiring neurosurgical assessment;
  • has experienced an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack and needs a prevention plan;
  • has recurrent stroke despite treatment;
  • has had an intracerebral hemorrhage and requires follow-up planning;
  • needs review of cerebral angiography, CT, MRI, or pathology findings; or
  • has received conflicting recommendations about surgery, intervention, or medication.

Stroke and Neurological Emergencies

Sudden facial weakness, arm weakness, speech difficulty, severe headache, loss of balance, vision loss, confusion, seizure, or loss of consciousness may indicate a stroke or another neurological emergency. The patient should call local emergency services and go to the nearest stroke-capable hospital immediately.

International travel should never delay urgent treatment. Many stroke therapies are highly time-sensitive, and treatment eligibility can change within hours.

Medical Records to Prepare

International patients seeking a preliminary review should prepare:

  • a concise medical summary and timeline of symptoms;
  • neurology, neurosurgery, and hospital discharge records;
  • original brain CT, MRI, CTA, MRA, DSA, or perfusion images in DICOM format;
  • radiology reports and previous comparison scans;
  • operative notes and implant or device details, if applicable;
  • pathology reports and original slides or blocks for a brain tumor case;
  • recent blood tests and cardiovascular investigations;
  • a complete medication list, including aspirin, clopidogrel, anticoagulants, and blood-pressure medicines; and
  • a list of specific questions for the specialist.

For stroke cases, include the exact date and time symptoms began, treatments already given, changes in neurological function, and any history of bleeding or recurrent events.

Planning Care in Beijing

Specialist availability and appointment pathways can vary. Before traveling, patients should confirm whether their records can be reviewed, whether an in-person examination is required, and which tests may need to be repeated in Beijing.

Remote review is subject to the physician’s authorization and may help clarify the next step, but it cannot replace emergency care or a complete neurological examination. A final treatment plan and cost estimate can only be confirmed after the medical team evaluates the patient.

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 medical records, identifying an appropriate specialist, requesting appointment availability, arranging medical interpretation, and planning travel for care in China.

Access to a particular doctor, remote medical review, surgery, or treatment is subject to the hospital’s and physician’s approval. CMCS does not guarantee appointments, treatment eligibility, or clinical outcomes.

For assistance, contact CMCS:

Important Note

Doctor titles, clinical roles, research findings, and appointment arrangements may change. Patients should confirm current information with the hospital before travel. This article is based on publicly available hospital profiles and academic sources and is provided for general information only. It is not individual medical advice and does not replace assessment by a qualified physician.

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