Bumrungrad Heart Institute Showcases the Expertise of Its Medical Team by Combining Cutting-Edge Technology and Innovation to Save the Lives of Critically Ill Patients, Elevating Heart Disease Treatment to World-Class Standards

Bumrungrad Heart Institute Showcases the Expertise of

Its Medical Team by Combining Cutting-Edge Technology

and Innovation to Save the Lives of Critically Ill Patients,

Elevating Heart Disease Treatment to World-Class Standards

Cardiovascular disease is a silent killer and a worldwide threat. According to the World Health Organization, 17-18 million people die from heart disease annually, accounting for one-third of all deaths. Moreover, heart disease continues to increase in prevalence among younger people with risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and a high stress lifestyle. Bumrungrad International Hospital is committed to ensuring the Heart Institute, a specialized center of medical excellence, remains equipped to address all forms of heart disease. With cutting-edge technology and a multidisciplinary team of specialist physicians, it delivers safe, effective treatments to help patients regain their quality of life.

Mr. Barry Wolfman, Senior Executive Director of Operations of Bumrungrad International Hospital, said, “Bumrungrad is proud to be a leader in quaternary care, the highest level of medical care. We have been committed to raising the bar for care for over 45 years. We have a team of pioneering cardiologists who use world-class best practices and cutting-edge technology to deliver high quality patient outcomes for both Thai and international patients. Bumrungrad was ranked by Newsweek magazine as one of the ‘World’s Best Specialized Hospitals’ in 2026 in the cardiology category, making it the only hospital in Thailand to achieve this accolade. Furthermore, Bumrungrad was recognized as one of the ‘World’s Best Smart Hospitals’ in 2026, reflecting our commitment to using advanced technology to enhance patient care.”

Artirat Charukitpipat, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Bumrungrad International Hospital, added, “Bumrungrad recognizes the importance of heart disease and is committed to helping patients recover from illness and improve their quality of life. Our Heart Institute is a center of medical excellence, equipped to provide comprehensive care for heart patients, regardless of the severity of their condition. However, no matter how effective technology is, patient outcomes rely on the expertise and experience of our doctors to provide appropriate advice and treatment for each individual patient. The Bumrungrad Heart Institute: Healing Every Beat press conference reinforces Bumrungrad’s commitment to developing treatments to provide effective, safe, and world-class treatment options to ensure patients obtain high quality treatment outcomes.”

Integrating Technology with Expertise: The Heart of the Bumrungrad Heart Institute

One of the key figures behind this success is Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee, Cardiologist, Electrophysiologist and Director of the Bumrungrad Heart Institute. With over 30 years of experience in treating arrhythmias in both Thailand and the United States, he was among the first physicians to integrate the CardioInsight technique with 3D cardiac mapping to guide the treatment of complex arrhythmias. He also pioneered the CFAE Ablation technique and played a key role in discovering the cause of Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS), or Brugada Syndrome.

His research has been published in over 250 articles in leading international academic journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), JAMA, and Circulation. He was also honored as one of the World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists by the Stanford University Ranking 2023. In addition to his invaluable contributions, he was granted the highest Royal Decoration for his dedicated service to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and the Royal Family, which underscores the credibility and trust patients can fully place in him.

Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee, speaking on the topic “How Cutting-Edge Heart Technology is Transforming Cardiac Care,” explained that the key to heart disease treatment at Bumrungrad is early diagnosis. Heart disease often has no symptoms until it becomes severe. Early detection can prevent complications and save lives. Bumrungrad employs cutting-edge diagnostic technology, such as photon-counting CT scanning, which allows physicians to accurately assess heart function and detect abnormalities in heart valves, blood vessels, and heart tissue in detail. This enables rapid and effective treatment planning.

Focusing on Minimally Invasive Treatment for Rapid Recovery

Bumrungrad International Hospital focuses on minimally invasive treatment, which ensure high patient safety, shorten recovery time, and allow patients to return to their normal lives more quickly. Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee said, “We provide treatment for all four heart valves using catheter-based techniques without the need for open surgery such as TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement), TPVR (Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement), and TEER (Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Repair). These procedures reduce infection risk, especially in the elderly patients or patients with complications.”

Moreover, the Bumrungrad Heart Institute has a state-of-the-art cardiac electrophysiology laboratory, capable of treating complex arrhythmias with cardiac ablation or implantable cardiac devices, and heart transplant surgery to help patients return to normal life. The survival rate is as high as 85-90%, in line with international standards. Bumrungrad was also the first hospital in Asia to receive JCI accreditation for its Heart Failure Program, which began in 2022. It is also authorized as a heart transplant center by the Thai Red Cross Organ Donation Centre.

Innovation for the Life and Hope of Critically Ill Patients

Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee also stated that Bumrungrad Heart Institute is ready to elevate the treatment for severe heart disease cases with comprehensive Mechanical Circulatory Support technology. For example, the Left Ventricular Assist Device is used for long-term cardiac support and as a bridge for heart transplantation. ECMO provides temporary heart and lung support for patients in critical condition, and the pVAD (Percutaneous ventricular assist device: Impella), a small heart pump, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, which aids ventricular function through a catheter, pumping up to 4.3 liters of blood per minute. This is comparable to a normal heart that can pump 3-5 liters per minute. Using this device not only improves the heart’s blood supply but also reduces the risk of death from shock, with a 26% reduction in patient mortality at 180 days. When used in conjunction with ECMO in the “ECpella” treatment, critically ill patients have a higher chance of survival and recovery. Bumrungrad’s strength lies in its multidisciplinary team of highly trained specialists, who are able to select the most appropriate treatment for each patient.

Prof. Dr. Koonlawee Nademanee summarized the overall picture, saying, “Our commitment to developing cutting-edge diagnostics, treatments, and technologies is aimed at providing patients with access to world-class treatment, resulting in higher survival rates, fewer complications, and better quality of life. Our success is the result of the collaborative work of our multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists, anesthesiologists, nurses, and rehabilitation specialists — making Bumrungrad Heart Institute the preferred option for complex heart disease treatment worldwide.”

Going forward, Bumrungrad Heart Institute remains committed to advancing cardiac care. It plans to invest in precision medicine and genomics, expand the use of AI tools and predictive analytics for more accurate diagnoses and treatments, and continue to leverage cutting-edge technologies to reduce risk and speed up patient recovery. Our ultimate goal is to deliver effective, safe, world-class treatment that ensures optimal patient outcomes.

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