Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect in children, caused by abnormal development of the heart and great vessels during the fetal period. The global incidence is 8‰-12‰.It is divided into simple CHD (ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, etc.) and complex critical CHD (tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, etc.). Without timely treatment, it will lead to pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, growth retardation and even death, and critical complex CHD often requires intervention in the neonatal period.
: China has the largest annual CHD surgery volume in the world (over 140,000 cases). The success rate of simple CHD radical surgery exceeds 99%, and the success rate of complex CHD surgery exceeds 95%. The success rate of neonatal complex CHD surgery in top centers (e.g. National Children's Medical Center) is over 97%, on par with top European and American centers.
: China is a global leader in ultrasound-guided radiation-free interventional occlusion, robot-assisted pediatric cardiac surgery, and cardiac surgery for ultra-low birth weight premature infants (under 1kg), which is strictly limited in many European and American centers.
: A complete chain from prenatal diagnosis, intrauterine intervention, neonatal treatment, postoperative rehabilitation to long-term follow-up, with a prenatal diagnosis accuracy rate of over 95%, enabling immediate surgery after birth for critical cases.
: The treatment cost is only 1/5-1/3 of that in the US and Europe with the same technical level, and there is no long waiting time. Critical surgery can be arranged within 24-72 hours, while the waiting period in Europe and America is often weeks to months.
Childhood nervous system diseases are the second leading cause of disability and death in children, including congenital developmental malformations, genetic metabolic diseases, and acquired diseases (infection, trauma, tumors). The global prevalence in children is 3%-5%.
It includes the following common types: refractory epilepsy, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), cerebral palsy, pediatric brain tumors, hydrocephalus, and rare genetic neurological diseases. The nervous system of children is in the developmental stage, with rapid disease progression and high requirements for treatment timing, and it is easy to leave long-term neurological dysfunction affecting motor, intellectual and language development.
: China has the world's largest genetic database of pediatric neurological genetic diseases. Whole-exome sequencing has a short cycle (7-14 days) and the cost is only 1/4-1/2 of that in Europe and America, with a diagnostic positive rate of over 80% for rare neurological diseases.
: China has the second largest number of pediatric epilepsy surgery cases in the world (over 10,000 cases annually), with an effective rate of over 85%. It has rich experience in epilepsy surgery for infants under 3 months old, which is strictly restricted in many European and American centers.
: China has the largest number of SPR surgery cases in the world (over 100,000 cases), with an effective rate of over 90%. The original "surgery + rehabilitation + orthopedics" integrated system can significantly improve motor function and reduce disability rate, with higher accessibility and lower cost of long-term rehabilitation than Europe and America.
: Targeted drugs and gene therapy for SMA and other rare neurological diseases have been approved and covered by medical insurance in China, with an annual treatment cost of only a fraction of that in the US (the annual cost of Risdiplam in the US is about 750,000 USD, while it is only tens of thousands of RMB after medical insurance in China).
: Acupuncture, tuina combined with modern rehabilitation technology has a significant effect on the recovery of neurological function after cerebral palsy, developmental delay and surgery, which is a unique advantage of Chinese treatment.
Severe childhood orthopedic diseases are mostly caused by congenital developmental malformations, genetic diseases, trauma or tumors, including congenital scoliosis/kyphosis, severe developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease), congenital limb deformities, severe cerebral palsy limb deformities, bone and soft tissue sarcoma, etc..
The global incidence is 2‰-3‰. The core hazard is limb disability, growth deformity, pain, loss of mobility and even lifelong paralysis. The core feature of pediatric orthopedics is that children are in the skeletal growth period, so treatment needs to correct deformities while preserving growth potential, with much higher technical requirements than adult orthopedics.
: China has the largest number of pediatric spinal deformity surgeries in the world (over 30,000 cases annually). The success rate of severe scoliosis (curvature >90°) correction surgery exceeds 98%, with a correction rate of over 70%, on par with top European and American centers. It has the world's largest number of MAGEC growing rod cases, with an original staged plan to maximize the preservation of spinal growth potential.
: The original "early closed reduction + plaster fixation + minimally invasive correction" program for severe DDH and congenital clubfoot in newborns has a cure rate of over 95%, avoiding major surgery in older children. China has the largest number of Ilizarov limb lengthening cases in the world, which can correct severe limb deformities that are considered inoperable in Europe and America.
: China has the world's largest case database of osteogenesis imperfecta, with an original integrated treatment program, which can significantly reduce the incidence of fractures and improve height and mobility, with an effective rate of over 90%, and the cost is only 1/3-1/5 of that in Europe and America.
: The cost of spinal deformity correction surgery in top Chinese centers is only 30,000-80,000 USD, compared with 200,000-300,000 USD in the US. Surgery can be arranged within 1-2 weeks, while the waiting period in Europe and America is often 3-6 months.
Childhood solid tumors account for 40%-50% of childhood malignant tumors, with a global annual incidence of 12-15 per 100,000 children, and are one of the leading causes of death in children.
Core types include neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, hepatoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, retinoblastoma, osteosarcoma, medulloblastoma, etc.. Most are embryonic tumors with high malignancy and rapid progression, but they are much more sensitive to comprehensive treatment than adult solid tumors. The overall 5-year survival rate after standardized treatment exceeds 70%, and some tumors (e.g. Wilms tumor) have a 5-year survival rate of over 90%.
: The overall 5-year survival rate of pediatric solid tumors in top Chinese centers exceeds 80%, with 95% for Wilms tumor, 85% for hepatoblastoma, and 90% for retinoblastoma, which is equal to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the US.
: China has one of the largest number of CAR-T cell therapy, GD2 monoclonal antibody immunotherapy cases for pediatric solid tumors in the world, with an effective rate of over 60% for recurrent/refractory neuroblastoma. Proton and heavy ion radiotherapy has mature technology, with a waiting period of only 1-2 weeks (2-3 months in Europe and America), and the cost is only 1/2-2/3 of that in the US.
: The eye preservation rate for retinoblastoma in top Chinese centers exceeds 80%, far higher than the global average; the limb-salvage surgery rate for pediatric osteosarcoma exceeds 90%, avoiding amputation. Minimally invasive radical surgery has a popularity rate of over 70%, with minimal trauma and maximum preservation of organ function.
: MDT consultation is routinely carried out in all top pediatric oncology centers in China, with a treatment plan formulated within 3-7 days, while the waiting period for MDT consultation in Europe and America is often 1-3 months.
: The cost of standardized comprehensive treatment in China is only 1/4-1/3 of that in Europe and America. For example, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation + immunotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma costs 500,000-800,000 USD in the US, but only 100,000-200,000 USD in top Chinese centers.
Severe childhood digestive system diseases are mostly caused by congenital digestive tract malformations, genetic metabolic diseases, acquired inflammation/infection, including biliary atresia, Hirschsprung's disease, congenital esophageal/intestinal atresia, severe/refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), acute liver failure, short bowel syndrome, etc..
The global incidence is 1‰-2‰, which can lead to feeding difficulties, growth retardation, malnutrition, organ failure and even death. The digestive system of children is in the developmental stage, with weak compensatory capacity, and extremely high requirements for surgical timing, nutritional support and postoperative management.
: China has the largest number of pediatric digestive tract malformation surgeries in the world (over 50,000 cases annually). The success rate of Kasai surgery for biliary atresia exceeds 60%, and the 2-year native liver survival rate exceeds 50%, on par with top centers in Japan, Europe and America. The success rate of primary anastomosis for neonatal congenital esophageal/intestinal atresia exceeds 95%, with the minimum surgical weight for premature infants as low as 500g.
: China has the second largest annual number of pediatric liver transplantations in the world (over 1,000 cases), with over 80% living donor liver transplantation. The surgical success rate exceeds 98%, and the 5-year survival rate exceeds 95%, equal to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in the US. The waiting period for living donor liver transplantation is only 1-2 weeks, while it is often months to years in Europe and America, and the cost is only 1/4-1/3 of that in the US.
: China's original integrated treatment program has an intestinal rehabilitation success rate of over 80% for pediatric short bowel syndrome, avoiding intestinal transplantation. The success rate of pediatric intestinal transplantation exceeds 90%, and the 5-year survival rate exceeds 70%, reaching the international advanced level.
: Biological agents and small molecule targeted drugs for pediatric severe/refractory Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are widely available in China, fully synchronized with international guidelines. The original integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine program can significantly reduce the recurrence rate, reduce hormone dosage, and improve children's growth and development, with an effective rate of over 85%.
: The popularity rate of pediatric digestive endoscopy and laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery exceeds 85%, with minimal trauma, fast recovery, and the minimum endoscopic operation age can be in the neonatal period. The whole-cycle nutritional support management can fully guarantee the growth and development of children, which is the core feature of Chinese treatment.
