Press Release
National Heart Centre Singapore Sets The Stage To Advance Cardiac Care At Singapore Live 2025: Asia's Premier Conference Showcasing Cutting-Edge Interventional Technologies
Singapore, 16 January 2025 – The National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) is proud to organise Singapore LIVE (SingLIVE) 2025, Asia's pre-eminent annual medical conference in cardiac interventions. Taking place from 16 to 18 January 2025 at Raffles City Convention Centre, SingLIVE 2025 will convene over 1,000 international delegates and 250 regional and international heart specialists for live demonstrations, discussions on groundbreaking innovations and immersive training sessions, aimed at enhancing care of patients with cardiovascular conditions in Singapore and beyond.
The 34th edition of SingLIVE reaffirms NHCS's commitment to pioneering advancements in cardiac care. Amongst many others, NHCS has led the forefront in transformative cardiac innovations including Electrosurgery, a cutting-edge technique in structural heart interventions, and the DynamX Bioadaptor, a revolutionary device to treat coronary artery disease. These developments, emerging from multidisciplinary expert collaboration, exemplify NHCS's mission to push the boundaries of interventional cardiology and significantly improve outcomes for patients with complex heart conditions.
Innovative Techniques Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes
1. Electrosurgery: Precision in Complex Cardiac Procedures
Electrosurgical-aided structural heart interventions have successfully been performed at NHCS. This novel technique involves using electrical currents to precisely cut tissue and can be used in a variety of scenarios. Patients who are at high risk of surgery and are amenable only to percutaneous interventions may sometimes have anatomy that makes even the percutaneous (i.e. minimally invasive) route unfeasible. In such situations, these patients may not have any viable treatment options. In suitable cases, electrosurgery may help modify the patient's pre-existing anatomy to allow for percutaneous therapy to safely proceed. Examples include cutting of pre-existing valve leaflets to prevent artery obstructions during valve replacement or precisely creating a route between the artery and vein of the patient to allow for the procedure to be carried out from a blood vessel in the leg.
Case study:
In May 2024, NHCS performed two cardiac interventions, successfully utilising electrosurgery in structural heart cases for the first time in Singapore. One of these cases was Mr Chua, a 74-year-old patient.
Mr Chua faced a challenging situation, having been diagnosed with a failing surgical aortic valve. More than a decade after undergoing open-heart surgery to replace his damaged aortic valve, he now required another replacement due to wear and tear of his surgical valve. The minimally invasive Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedure, pioneered in Asia by NHCS in 2009, initially seemed like an ideal solution, offering lower risks and faster recovery, and avoiding the need for repeat open-heart surgery. However, Mr Chua's case presented unique potential complications. It was found that one of his coronary arteries was positioned lower than usual, and the surgical leaflet from his previous valve replacement posed a risk of obstructing this artery during a standard TAVI procedure. Consequently, a standard TAVI procedure could potentially lead to life-threatening consequences.
NHCS's cardiac interventionists and surgeons, utilised an innovative approach to augment the TAVI procedure, reducing the risks that Mr Chua could potentially face. Using a dedicated cutting device carrying high-frequency electrical currents, they precisely cut through the problematic leaflet of the surgical aortic valve, mitigating the risk of arterial blockage. They then carefully deployed the new heart valve through a blood vessel in Mr Chua's leg. The original surgical valve was also subsequently fractured percutaneously to create more space for the new valve to function optimally.
The procedure's success is evident in Mr Chua's remarkable recovery. He was discharged well within a few days of the procedure and at five months post-procedure, he has regained his quality of life, returning to his usual activities with renewed vigour.
"Electrosurgery represents a significant leap forward in our ability to treat complex cardiac and structural heart cases. In the case of Mr Chua, the precision offered by this technique allowed us to overcome anatomical obstacles that would have been extremely risky with conventional methods. This innovative approach expands our capacity to help patients who previously had limited options, potentially transforming the landscape of cardiac interventions," said Associate Professor Jonathan Yap, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, and Director, Structural Heart Inventions, NHCS. This inaugural electrosurgery technique was performed by Assoc Prof Yap, together with Assistant Professor Ho Kay Woon, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, and the TAVI team on patient, Mr Chua, the first person in Singapore who underwent the TAVI procedure utilising this innovative method.
2. DynamX Bioadaptor: Adaptive Stent Technology
The DynamX Bioadaptor is a revolutionary coronary implant designed to address some limitations of metallic stents. Though newer generation of drug-eluting stents (i.e. stents that slowly release medication to prevent the artery from getting blocked again) have significantly improved the outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease, permanent metallic implants encage the stented segments, reducing the blood vessel's ability to adjust and adapt in a healthy way while also lessening their natural pulsing movement.
DynamX Bioadaptor is an innovative new coronary device to avoid or minimise the caging of the coronary artery. This next-generation device features three metallic helical strands that are linked together by unique biodegradable unlocking elements that dissolve over six months. As the coating disappears, it triggers an ingenious mechanism: the implant unlocks its frame, allowing it to move freely with the artery. This adaptive design restores natural movement and function, enhancing blood flow and significantly reducing the risk of re-narrowing of the vessel1. Should the promising early results sustain over a longer period and in larger populations with more complex coronary anatomies, it will be another important milestone in percutaneous coronary intervention.
Case Study:
Mr Kum's case exemplifies the DynamX Bioadaptor's potential. Following a heart attack in January 2024, Mr Kum required angioplasty to improve blood flow in two of his heart arteries. Treatment of his right coronary artery was challenging due to the curvature of his blood vessel which was more complex than usual. Recognising the complexity of Mr Kum's condition, NHCS's cardiac interventionists opted to use the DynamX Bioadaptor a week later, tailoring treatment to his unique arterial issue.
The device's ability to adapt to his artery's natural movement proved crucial in his treatment. One-year post-procedure, Mr Kum remains well and symptom-free, showcasing the DynamX Bioadaptor's effectiveness in managing complex coronary conditions and improving quality of life. This innovative approach to coronary care demonstrates the potential for adaptive technologies to transform treatment outcomes, offering new hope for patients with complex arterial conditions.
"The DynamX Bioadaptor represents an innovative new solution in coronary interventions. As we continue to gather data and experience, we are increasingly optimistic about the device's role in advancing the standard of care for patients with coronary artery disease," said Associate Professor Lim Soo Teik, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, and Advisor, Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory, NHCS. Assoc Prof Lim performed the DynamX Bioadaptor treatment on patient, Mr Kum. To-date, NHCS has successfully treated approximately 100 patients with the DynamX Bioadaptor.
34th Singapore LIVE 2025: Continuing the Legacy of Excellence in Cardiac Interventions
Ranked #12 in the World's Best Cardiology Hospitals by Newsweek 20252 as well as top 3 in Asia Pacific region, NHCS maintains its position as Singapore's top cardiology hospital. A cornerstone of NHCS's success is its commitment to training and educating future generations of healthcare professionals, equipping them to manage increasingly complex heart conditions. SingLIVE, NHCS's signature course and the only annual conference of its kind organised by a local healthcare institution, offers regional and international cardiologists unparallelled access to the latest knowledge and skills.
A Dynamic Platform for Advancing Cardiac Care
The Conference provides a multifaceted learning experience for cardiologists and allied professionals:
- Live Demonstrations: A remarkable 27 procedures will be transmitted live from 10 renowned heart centres from Singapore, across Asia and Europe to approximately 1,000 delegates.
- Hands-on Training: The course's Training Village remains a key feature, offering 10 simulation-based learning sessions where participants will gain practical experience with various techniques and devices.
- Comprehensive Scientific Programme: With 50 scientific sessions across seven concurrent tracks, the programme offers over 100 learning hours. This includes a dedicated session on Electrosurgery, supporting cardiologists in advancing their clinical practice and patient care.
Global Collaboration in Cardiac Care
SingLIVE 2025 is proud to collaborate with 10 live transmission centres from Asia and Europe including Sapporo Heart Centre in Japan, The Second Affiliated Zhejiang University Hospital in China, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Bangladesh, National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita in Indonesia, Sarawak Heart Centre in Malaysia, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Thailand, and University Hospital UZ Brussel in Belgium. This also includes from Singapore, National University Heart Centre Singapore, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and home centre, NHCS. These centres will collectively showcase 27 live case demonstrations of interventional procedures, addressing a wide spectrum of cardiac conditions. This international collaboration underscores SingLIVE's role as a global platform for advancing cardiac interventions.
"For three decades, SingLIVE has been at the forefront of cardiovascular education in Asia-Pacific, building trust and partnerships across the region. As we face more complex cardiovascular challenges globally, interventional cardiology will evolve even more rapidly. SingLIVE serves as a crucial platform where Asian and international experts converge to share cutting-edge techniques and novel treatments. Our goal is not just to showcase these advancements but to equip the next generation of cardiac care professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to better care for patients with increasingly complex conditions. In this era of swift medical progress, SingLIVE remains committed to driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and ultimately, improving patient outcomes across the region and beyond," said Professor Yeo Khung Keong, Course Director, SingLIVE, and Chief Executive Officer, NHCS. Prof Yeo and Professor Koh Tian Hai, Emeritus Consultant, Department of Cardiology, NHCS, are course directors of SingLIVE 2025.
References:
- Bioadaptor RCT Trial
- https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/worlds-best-specialized-hospitals-2025/cardiology
|[{"FileName":"Media Release - NHCS advances cardiac care with Singapore LIVE (1).pdf","AttachmentUrl":"/sites/shcommonassets/Documents/News/nhcs-advances-cardiac-care-with-singapore-live/Media Release - NHCS advances cardiac care with Singapore LIVE (1).pdf"}]||