Pioneering surgeon wields scalpel and paintbrush
Print Edition
Jing Zaiping is not only a pioneering vascular surgeon who introduced advanced techniques to China, but also a self-taught calligrapher and ink-wash painter who sells his works to help needy patients pay for his surgery.
Jing, 58, works at the military Changhai Hospital in Shanghai where he has pioneered minimally invasive endovascular surgeries, performed by him for the first time in China.
His art is also pioneering, evoking Chinese landscapes of mountains, mists and rushing torrents. Each is accompanied by individual, rather abstract calligraphy, with flowing strokes complementing the art.
Many Chinese find his work too abstract and nonliteral, Jing said, while many Westerners say it’s immediately understandable and evocative. “They call my paintings very special and unique, asking me to retain my combination of ancient and modern.”
Starting on September 20, Jing will hold a one-week exhibition at the main hall in Royal Palace in Budapest, Hungary. Proceeds from his art sales will benefit Jing’s needy patients. He was invited to exhibit his works by the Sino-Hungarian Culture Exchange Association.
Jing was born into a poor farmer’s family in Kunming, Yunnan Province, and raised in Shandong Province. He always loved calligraphy and painting but could not afford professional training. He taught himself and invented his own calligraphy. A brilliant student, he went on to medical school.
“In art, I created my own style, which combines both the figurative and nonobjective,” Jing said. “I don’t care whether I really show a mountain or river but there is a feeling of Chinese landscape from lines and perspective.
“I feel very honored by the invitation,” Jing said. “I will be the first Chinese doctor to hold an art exhibition in Budapest’s palace.” The Sino-Hungarian association learned of Jing’s art last year at an international medical conference, which set aside a small exhibition area for Jing.
In 1997 Jing was the first in China to perform minimally invasive endovascular exclusion of the abdominal aortic aneurism (dilation or ballooning of the artery). A rupture can be fatal. He first sought help from the international medical community. The head of the European Vascular Surgery Association was impressed and sent equipment.
In following years, Jing and his team performed many firsts in China using new technologies for vascular diseases.
“I want to do new things instead of following the others,” Jing told Shanghai Daily in a recent interview.
Today Jing is focused on the nation’s first minimally invasive surgery on patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS), a disease of the heart valves in which the opening of the aortic valve is narrowed. It’s commonly caused by progressive calcification of the valve in older patients; the mean age is 65-70.
“It is a very risky disease since half of the serious cases die within the first year of diagnosis,” Jing said. It is traditionally treated with open-heart surgery, with risks of heart stoppage. Many patients give up because of risk.
There’s a saying that patients with this disease are looking for death if they receive surgery or waiting for death if they don’t receive it, Jing said.
After the international medical industry developed a minimally invasive therapy for AS patients in 2001, Jing and his team began preparations.
He and his team have performed nine successful surgeries, the only such operations on the Chinese mainland, and all patients have recovered.
Breakthrough method
In Jing’s breakthrough method, an artificial aortic heart valve is passed through a catheter into the heart through a small incision in the thigh.
“The new method requires great skill in the chief surgeon and his team,” Jing said. There’s a strict procedure to select patients and appropriate therapy, involving experts of the US-based producer of valves and equipment.
The heart is kept beating throughout. Pinpoint accuracy is required, or the patient can die.
The treatment costs 300,000 yuan (US$49,000) because of the expensive equipment and individually fabricated heart valves.
“I help my patients, all around or over 70, by selling my calligraphy and paintings,” Jing said. “So far nine patients have benefited from the surgery I sponsor. There are 15 on the waiting list. I hope more people can take part in the charity program to help patients regain health.”
Jing’s spirit moved officials of the Shanghai Duo Yun Xuan Group, one of China’s largest art auction houses. Jing was invited to launch an exhibition and lecture last weekend.
Revenue from his art sales will fund treatment.
He hopes to set up a training center to promote his non-invasive vascular surgeries in other hospitals. Today they are only performed in Shanghai at Changhai military hospital.
Jing and his team are praised by Chen Yili, the daughter of a 68-year-old Shanghai man who successfully underwent surgery on June 10.
Her father became extremely fatigued late last year and was found to have a seriously narrowed aortic valve.
“Doctors said he could suffer sudden cardiac death any time and open-chest surgery might save him, but the surgery was risky and could have complications,” Chen said.
He was a good surgery candidate.
“Now my father lives a healthy and active life, exercising daily, swimming three times a week and bicycling to see the lotus in bloom,” she said.
According to Dr Frank Veith, former head of the US Society for Vascular Surgery, Jing realized early on that the future lies in less invasive endo-techniques, first introduced in China by Jing and his colleagues.
He said Jing has done “wonderful work” on endovascular treatment of aortic disease, especially on the aortic arch and ascending aorta. “Jing’s breakthrough in this area is a great contribution to the world’s medical practice and theory, and should be highly praised.”
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