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On April 14, 2025, a distinguished delegation from Mexico—led by Prof. Jorge Arturo Santos-Franco, Head of Neurosurgical Department at Hospital de Especialidades of Centro Médico Nacional La Raza under Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social (IMSS), along with Dr. Sophie d’Herbemont, neurosurgeon and Founding Partner of NeuroCuore Clinic at Hospital Ángeles Universidad—visited The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (FAHZU) for an in-depth academic exchange with Prof. Sheng Guan and his neurointerventional team from the Department of Imaging and Interventional Medicine.

Exploring China’s Neurointerventional Frontier

The visit aimed to gain firsthand insight into the advancements of China’s neurointerventional field. Prof. Santos-Franco’s delegation toured FAHZU’s Interventional Surgery Center, where they observed a complex aneurysm flow diverter implantation procedure performed by Dr. Zhiqiang Yao, a member of Prof. Guan’s team.

During the live operation, the teams discussed critical aspects such as procedure planning, device selection, and perioperative medication management. Dr. Yao explained that based on the aneurysm’s characteristics and vascular conditions, his team selected the Nuva® Flow Diverter developed by TJWY Medical, which he has used in over 200 cases with a postoperative adverse event rate below 3%—offering greater accessibility for patients.

After the procedure, Dr. Yao reviewed the surgery with the Mexican experts, detailing the key operational techniques of the Nuva® Flow Diverter and demonstrating its postoperative configuration and wall apposition under Vasco-CT imaging.

The teams also exchanged views on epidemiology, procedure volumes, and healthcare reimbursement policies between China and Mexico. The visiting professors expressed deep admiration for the Chinese team’s surgical expertise, their commitment to patient care, and their growing innovation capacity in medical device development.

A Trans-Pacific Resonance in Medical Science

After visiting the neurointerventional wards and offices, the delegation joined an afternoon symposium. Dr. Xiaojie Fu, from Prof. Guan’s team, opened the session with an introduction to the Neurointerventional Department of FAHZU’s development history, research achievements, and clinical capacity, highlighting the department’s world-class scale and annual operation volume.

Prof. Guan then showcased the hospital’s remote communication platform, allowing the visitors to observe a live-streamed neurointerventional procedure directly from the operating room. The teams discussed clinical decision-making strategies, and Dr. Sophie d’Herbemont commented:

“The precision of Chinese neurointerventional surgeons and the sophistication of their hybrid operating rooms represent world-leading standards—this provides valuable insights for hospital development in Mexico.”

The discussion deepened around the topic “Indications and Perioperative Management of Flow Diverter Implantation.” Both sides shared perspectives on evidence-based guidelines, balancing radial support and vessel adaptability, and the impact of genetic variability on antiplatelet therapy protocols.

When Dr. Sophie d’Herbemont saw FAHZU’s intracranial aneurysm AI-assisted diagnostic system, she couldn’t help exclaiming in Spanish:

“¡Es como jugar al ajedrez con el cerebro!” (“It’s like playing chess with the brain!”)

This exchange was not only an intellectual dialogue but also a powerful testament to how geographic distance is no barrier to scientific collaboration—it is, instead, fertile ground for breakthroughs. As Prof. Santos-Franco concluded:

“The seeds of cooperation we plant today in Zhengzhou will bloom tomorrow both in the volcanic soils of Mexico and on the alluvial plains of the Yellow River.”