This article shares the complete record of an online user-patient who underwent aortic bioprosthetic valve replacement at Fuwai Hospital Shenzhen. The content is for reference only and should not be treated as medical advice.
On March 4, 2024, the patient was admitted to Fuwai Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and routine preoperative examination procedures were completed smoothly. The hospital arranged much of the preoperative workflow, including examination appointments, triage, queuing, and nurse escort for different tests. This reduced the need for family members to move between departments repeatedly.
Ward: Surgical Ward 3.
Planned surgery: aortic valve bioprosthetic replacement combined with ascending aortic replacement, total aortic arch replacement with artificial blood vessel, and temporary cardiac pacemaker implantation.
Performed surgery: aortic valve bioprosthetic replacement combined with ascending aortic replacement, total aortic arch replacement with artificial blood vessel, and open aortic elephant trunk stent implantation.
Operating room: No. 02 Surgical Operating Room. The patient entered the operating room at 08:40 on March 14. Surgery started at 08:41 and was completed at 18:06. Before surgery, immediate family members were required to sign and confirm the preoperative informed consent form.
The attending physician explained before surgery that this type of major cardiac surgery involved complex procedures, but that the overall surgical risk was within a controllable range. The patient was diagnosed with Type A aortic dissection.
During the surgery, a fourth-generation bioprosthetic valve was used for aortic valve replacement. Ascending aortic replacement and elephant trunk stent implantation were completed at the same time. The open-heart surgery lasted about ten hours. According to the patient record, the surgery was completed smoothly, and the patient was later transferred out of the Intensive Care Unit before recovering stably and being discharged.
Total hospitalization duration was twenty-six days. The total medical expenses were approximately 300,000 RMB, with 84,000 RMB self-paid by the patient after medical insurance reimbursement. Additional miscellaneous expenses such as daily care and catering were approximately 10,000 RMB.
The hospital admission deposit was 5,000 RMB. Preoperative prepaid medical fees were 60,000 RMB. A supplementary payment of approximately 19,000 RMB was made at discharge settlement.
After the patient was transferred out of the ICU, the ward was equipped with 24-hour one-on-one professional nursing staff. The nursing fee standard was 340 RMB per day, and the care providers had professional nursing qualifications. Family members did not need to stay and take care of the patient all day, and nursing fees could be settled online at discharge.
After discharge, the patient took warfarin for long-term postoperative management. In the early stage, the coagulation index fluctuated, with the highest value reaching 4.35, which created a potential bleeding risk. The attending physician provided medication adjustment guidance and continued to follow up on the patient's recovery, including during holidays, to help adjust dosage and support postoperative stability.
This HelixBridge cross-border healthcare guide references Fuwai Hospital Shenzhen, a major cardiovascular specialty hospital in Mainland China. For Hong Kong patients and international patients exploring specialist care options in China, understanding hospital capabilities, treatment pathways, waiting times, and practical care preparation is an important part of cross-border healthcare decision-making.
This hospitalization settlement example demonstrates one possible cost structure for specialist inpatient treatment in Mainland China. The total hospitalization cost was approximately RMB 298,845, with an out-of-pocket payment of approximately RMB 84,091 after reimbursement. Actual costs can vary depending on patient condition, treatment plan, insurance, hospital requirements, and timing.
HelixBridge focuses on helping patients better understand specialist care pathways and cross-border medical preparation before arranging treatment in Mainland China.
