Taiwanese singer Tank, also known as Lü Jianzhong, recently underwent a successful heart and liver transplant in Hangzhou, China. Following the procedure, he expressed his gratitude on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo, stating "thanks to my motherland" for the support he received. He has since recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

The surgery was reportedly the first of its kind in Asia, a simultaneous heart and liver transplant performed to address familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy combined with liver failure. The operation was considered extremely complex, requiring intricate perioperative management and a high degree of collaboration among medical specialists. Few medical centers globally possess the capability to perform such a procedure.

Tank's medical journey was shared on Weibo, where he detailed his recovery process. His post quickly gained significant attention, garnering millions of views. The singer rose to prominence in 2006 with his debut album, which achieved considerable sales. He gained further recognition with popular songs that resonated within the Mandarin pop music scene. However, in 2007, he experienced a sudden collapse on stage due to his hereditary heart condition. Following the implantation of a pacemaker, he was advised to limit his singing due to the potential risks.

By late March 2024, Tank's health had significantly deteriorated, leading to his admission to a hospital in Hangzhou. Medical evaluations revealed multiple serious conditions, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, decompensated cirrhosis, and heart failure. Given the complexity of his case, doctors determined that a single-organ transplant would not be sufficient. They concluded that a simultaneous heart and liver transplant was necessary to save his life.

After enduring over six months of declining health, Tank received matching donors in November 2024. The hospital team swiftly mobilized to perform the simultaneous heart and liver transplant. The postoperative phase presented further challenges, including delayed graft function, the need for balanced immunosuppression, and the risk of overlapping infections.