Seoul Asan Medical Center Opens South Korea’s First Fetal Heart Center
Seoul Asan Medical Center inaugurated South Korea’s first dedicated Fetal Heart Center on September 23, with the launch officially announced on September 28. The specialized unit focuses on diagnosing and treating congenital heart diseases in fetuses, expanding prenatal care services that originated within the country’s first fetal treatment center established in 2004.
- Seoul Asan Medical Center launched South Korea’s first standalone Fetal Heart Center on September 23, integrating prenatal diagnosis, delivery planning, and postnatal surgery.
- Congenital heart defects affect approximately 8 to 10 per 1,000 live births, requiring precise early imaging and multidisciplinary intervention.
- The hospital’s broader fetal treatment program has handled more than 30,000 fetuses and 100,000 echocardiograms since opening in 2004.
Clinical Scope and Patient Volume at the New Center
Congenital heart defects occur in roughly 8 to 10 out of every 1,000 live births. Common pathologies identified during screening include ventricular septal defects, transposition of the great vessels, and Tetralogy of Fallot. Early and accurate detection of these structural anomalies allows clinical teams to establish treatment plans prior to birth.
The newly opened Fetal Heart Center sits on the sixth floor of a new building that houses delivery rooms, operating rooms, and a neonatal intensive care unit. Hospital administrators plan to expand treatment sessions and introduce advanced echocardiography equipment to manage higher volumes of high-risk pregnancies and severe fetal cardiac conditions. Demand for these specialized evaluations has grown steadily. Fetal echocardiograms at the facility rose from 298 cases in 2004 to a record 1,531 last year, with approximately one-third involving direct heart examinations.
Multidisciplinary Care and Advanced Procedures
The center operates through a multidisciplinary framework involving obstetricians, neonatologists, pediatric cardiologists, and pediatric cardiac surgeons. This team evaluates the severity of fetal heart anomalies to collaboratively determine optimal delivery timing, delivery methods, immediate postnatal care, and subsequent surgical intervention.
Since the establishment of the broader fetal treatment program in 2004, the hospital has treated over 30,000 fetuses, completed 100,000 fetal echocardiograms, and performed 10,000 diagnostic tests using amniotic fluid, chorionic villi, and umbilical cord blood. Annual prenatal consultations now exceed 200. Beyond cardiac care, the broader unit has completed 1,575 complex fetal procedures, including 711 fetal shunt surgeries to drain fluid without opening the maternal abdomen, 336 fetal endoscopic surgeries, 294 radiofrequency ablation procedures, and 234 fetal blood transfusions. Center leadership plans to adopt emerging interventions, including advanced fetal cardiac catheterization procedures.
Won Hye-seong, director of the Fetal Treatment Center and an obstetrics professor at Seoul Asan Medical Center, stated that the institution will continue to enhance the expertise of both the Fetal Treatment Center and the Fetal Heart Center to ensure high-risk mothers and fetuses receive safe treatment and return home healthy.
Expansion of Pediatric Emergency Infrastructure Across Major Hospitals
Alongside the launch of the Fetal Heart Center, other major South Korean medical institutions are expanding specialized pediatric care infrastructure. Korea University Anam Hospital recently opened a pediatric emergency room within its regional emergency medical center. This expansion includes the appointment of three pediatric emergency specialists and the operation of four dedicated pediatric beds designed to improve the speed and stability of urgent care delivery.
A representative from Korea University Anam Hospital explained that systematically reinforcing dedicated medical personnel, beds, and treatment systems based on existing infrastructure aims to improve the professionalism of pediatric emergency care. Director Han Seung-beom noted that pediatric emergency patients can receive prompt and safe care through direct clinical connections with pediatric departments, supporting positive treatment outcomes.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.