Lihuili Hospital Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Team Selected as Provincial Clinical Innovation Team
The Lihuili Hospital pulmonary arterial hypertension team has been selected as one of Zhejiang Province’s first “Small but Strong” Clinical Innovation Teams.
The list was officially announced on March 4, 2025. The Pulmonary Arterial Pressure Abnormality Team of Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital was the only team in Ningbo to receive this honor.
This recognition highlights the hospital’s long-term work in the diagnosis, treatment and management of pulmonary arterial hypertension, also known as PAH.
What Is Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension?
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a serious disease caused by abnormally high pressure in the pulmonary arteries.
When pulmonary arterial pressure rises, the heart has to work much harder to pump blood to the lungs. Over time, this may lead to right heart failure and even life-threatening complications.
Many patients experience shortness of breath, fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance. Some patients may also develop bluish or purple lips due to low oxygen levels. For this reason, PAH patients are sometimes called “blue-lip” patients.
Although the name sounds poetic, the disease itself is severe and requires early diagnosis and long-term treatment.
A Multidisciplinary PAH Team in Ningbo
The Lihuili Hospital pulmonary arterial hypertension team is one of the earliest local teams dedicated to PAH diagnosis and treatment.
The team brings together specialists from several departments. These include respiratory and critical care medicine, cardiology, thoracic surgery, interventional radiology, rheumatology and immunology.
It also works closely with pharmacy, laboratory medicine and the medical-engineering innovation research institute.
This multidisciplinary model allows the team to provide more complete care for PAH patients. It also helps improve diagnosis, treatment planning and long-term follow-up.
Expert Leadership and Team Vision
The team is led by Dr. Wu Shibo, Chief Physician of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Dr. Wu said the team will use this opportunity to further strengthen multidisciplinary cooperation. The goal is to build a more efficient, professional and innovative clinical team.
The team also hopes to help more patients receive high-quality PAH care locally. This means patients may no longer need to travel outside the province for advanced diagnosis and treatment.
A Patient’s Journey with PAH
Five years ago, Ms. Hu, a young mother, began to feel increasingly tired after giving birth.
At first, she thought her symptoms were caused by poor postpartum recovery. However, rest did not help. Her condition continued to worsen.
She became breathless after light activity. Climbing stairs became difficult. Even simple daily tasks, such as going out to buy groceries, became a burden.
Later, her lips began to turn purple. This made her realize that her condition might be serious.
After a series of medical examinations, Ms. Hu was diagnosed with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension related to systemic lupus erythematosus and connective tissue disease.
Comprehensive Treatment and Long-Term Care
Ms. Hu later came to Lihuili Hospital for treatment.
Under the leadership of Dr. Wu Shibo, several specialists joined her treatment plan. The team included experts from cardiovascular medicine and rheumatology and immunology.
Her treatment focused on two goals. The first was to control lupus activity. The second was to keep pulmonary arterial hypertension at a low-risk level.
Doctors used corticosteroids and immunosuppressants to manage lupus. At the same time, they used targeted drugs to reduce pulmonary arterial pressure.
With this combined treatment, Ms. Hu’s condition gradually became stable.
Over the past five years, she has followed medical advice closely. She has also received regular follow-up examinations and right heart catheterization tests.
Today, Ms. Hu has returned to work. Her daily life has also returned to a normal path.
Building a Stronger Future for PAH Care
The Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Team at Lihuili Hospital has the only pulmonary vascular sub-specialty ward in Zhejiang Province.
It is also a National Pulmonary Vascular Disease Demonstration Center and a member unit of the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Alliance.
In the future, the team will continue to improve PAH diagnosis and treatment. It will focus on better screening, standardized treatment pathways and patient management.
The team also plans to use artificial intelligence to improve the diagnosis rate and treatment rate of PAH patients.
These efforts may help reduce hospital admissions, lower medical costs and improve patients’ quality of life.
Raising Awareness of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is often difficult to detect in its early stages. Symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath may be mistaken for other health problems.
Therefore, public education is very important.
The Lihuili Hospital pulmonary arterial hypertension team will continue to promote health education and patient management. It aims to raise awareness of PAH and help more patients receive timely care.
Through clinical innovation, multidisciplinary cooperation and long-term research, the team hopes to bring new hope to patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.