Last summer, Zidong Xuan was searching for answers.
Living with worsening chest pain, dizziness, and fatigue, even simple daily activities had become difficult. Tests revealed a serious reality: two of his coronary arteries were 100 per cent blocked.
At Trillium Health Partners, Zidong was offered a specialized, minimally invasive procedure to reopen a completely blocked artery and restore blood flow to his heart - without the need for major surgery. Until recently, patients requiring this level of complex cardiac care often had to travel outside Mississauga to access it, creating barriers to timely treatment.
Led by interventional cardiologist Dr. Rahul Bhindi and supported by a dedicated cardiac team, the procedure used advanced imaging and AI supported ultrasound to help guide treatment. It also marked a milestone for Trillium Health Partners: its first ever live broadcast cardiac procedure, streamed to hundreds of cardiologists around the world as part of a leading international conference.
This work reflects the strength and scale of Trillium Health Partners’ Regional Cardiac Health Program. The team performs up to 150 complex coronary procedures each year - placing it among the top 10 per cent of centres in Canada and helping build regional capacity for advanced cardiac care close to home.
For Zidong, the impact was immediate. “There was an improvement right away,” he says. “Before, I couldn’t walk fast without pain. Now, it’s completely different.” Today, he has returned to exercising and living without the limitations he once faced.
By delivering advanced cardiac care close to home, Trillium Health Partners is improving access and advancing a new kind of health care for a healthier community.
