NTU HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Chun-An Chen, Pediatric Cardiology

Children can be born with serious heart defects—and one of the most well-known is Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), often called the “blue baby” condition. Babies with TOF may have bluish skin or lips because their hearts cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood. This happens due to four structural heart abnormalities that affect blood flow, requiring surgical or interventional treatment soon after birth.

At National Taiwan University Children’s Hospital (NTUCH), the pediatric cardiology team is at the forefront of caring for these young patients. Led by Dr. Chun-An Chen, the team specializes in advanced interventional cardiac catheterization, imaging, and exercise physiology. One groundbreaking technique, transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation (TPVI), allows doctors to replace a damaged heart valve using a thin catheter instead of performing open-heart surgery. This minimally invasive procedure shortens recovery time and gives children a better chance of living a normal life.

But caring for children with TOF doesn’t end after surgery. As these patients grow, some develop complications such as pulmonary valve leakage, heart rhythm disorders, or reduced exercise capacity. Dr. Chen’s team uses 3D cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and biochemical markers to monitor heart function and detect early signs of fibrosis or arrhythmia. Their research has shown that timely valve replacement and personalized exercise programs can significantly improve long-term outcomes and quality of life.

By early 2025, the NTUCH heart team has performed more than 120 TPVI procedures, while mentoring other hospitals across Taiwan. Looking ahead, Dr. Chen aims to build a comprehensive program combining imaging, biomarkers, and exercise science to further improve outcomes for children born with heart disease.

“Our patients grow up with us,” says Dr. Chen. “Caring for them is a lifelong journey—and our goal is to help them live long, healthy, and fulfilling lives.”