[Expat & Aliments] Canadian treated for rare intestinal disorder in Shanghai

A 62-year-old Canadian, who suffered continuous diarrhea and anus pain and failed to receive effective and timely treatment at home, sought help from a cross-border medical platform in Shanghai's Lingang Special Area under an arrangement with his insurance company.

Doctors from Shanghai Pudong Hospital, a major medical facility on the newly established platform, accepted the patient and organized a remote consultation and confirmed that he could receive proper treatment in Shanghai. Just 48 hours later, the patient arrived at the Shanghai hospital.

Local doctors conducted detailed checks and diagnosed that the patient suffered idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of the mesenteric veins (IMHMV).

IMHMV is a rare cause of chronic progressive colonic ischemia due to non-thrombotic venous occlusion. Patients are typically misdiagnosed as suffering from inflammatory bowel disease or infectious colitis.

Doctors said they gave up the traditional treatment of removing parts of the intestines but used medicines plus high-pressure oxygen and other supporting treatment for a comprehensive therapy, which cleared the patient's pain and repaired the intestinal mucosa while avoiding the trauma and risk of surgery. The patient was discharged and is currently recovering.

Officials from Shanghai Pudong Hospital said it is the leading hospital of the Lingang cross-border medical platform, which has a clinical reception system for international patients and a medical device export service center.

The platform has streamlined a whole-process service of cross-border health service, including remote consultation and medical tourism to China, while cooperating with insurance companies.

Dr Li Jiyu, president of Shanghai Pudong Hospital, said as the biggest medical facility in the middle southern part of the Pudong New Area, the hospital has been actively involved in international patient transfer, remote consultation, multiple language services, international medical tourism and commercial insurance settlement to boost its cross-border attraction for overseas patients.