From August 11 to 13, 2025, the UMC Heart Center hosted an event that can be called a historic step in the development of interventional cardiology in Kazakhstan. Under the guidance of Professor Xiangbin Pan, a leading specialist at the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases from China, Kazakhstani interventional cardiologists mastered the innovative Pan (percutaneous and nonfluoroscopic) method, DKNews.kz reports.
This procedure allows to eliminate congenital heart defects via a minimally invasive way, namely by inserting a special catheter through the femoral artery. The catheter has an attached occluder at its tip and the whole procedure takes place without using X-ray equipment, but with observation through an ultrasound apparatus. This means that the patient and medical staff are completely excluded from the radiation exposure area, procedures are performed under ultrasound control, without general anesthesia, and recovery after the procedure takes minimal time.
The special value of the technique lies in its mobility. A compact ultrasound machine is sufficient for the procedure, which can be easily transported anywhere in the country. This opens up the possibility to perform high-tech operations in regions where there are no expensive angiographic complexes. That means that patients no longer need to travel hundreds of kilometers to the capital or large regional centers to receive medical help.
During the three days of the master class, Kazakhstani doctors together with the Professor performed 25 procedures, 15 of them on children. On the first day, 8 interventions were performed, and more than 10 procedures were planned for the second day. After the second case, local cardiologists started to apply the new technique independently, which indicates the high adaptability and professionalism of the UMC Heart Center team.
“Today we are not just mastering new technology, we are opening the way to the medicine of the future, where innovation goes hand in hand with accessibility and safety for every patient,” shared Yerik Otarbayev, interventional cardiologist at UMC Heart Center
Special attention should be paid to the use of fully absorbable occluder implants, which are implanted to close the atrial septal defect. During the year, they completely dissolve in the body, leaving a healthy heart and not interfering with its later growth and development. For little patients, this means not just the elimination of pathology, but a chance for a full-fledged, active life without restrictions.
The introduction of this technology is not only an improvement in the quality of medical care in the capital's centers, but also a strategic opportunity to further develop cardiac surgery in the regions. Six specialists from different regions of the country participated in the master class. This is especially important taking into account that cardiovascular diseases remain one of the leading causes of death in the country.
