The success of the team of doctors in Sremska Kamenica

Heart valve transplant

I. S. (35) from Novi Sad is recovering after a transplant that enabled her lungs normal blood supply

Ljubica Petrovic, Novi Sad

I. S. (35) from Novi Sad is feeling well after heart valve transplantation, the first such operation at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Sremska Kamenica. This woman has had two operations in London by the age of ten, her life being endangered because the heart valve prevented normal pulmonary blood supply.

I.S. from Novi Sad is in the hospital department where she is slowly recovering after implant of homograft, which allows the lungs normal blood supply. Complicated cardiac-surgery was successfully carried out by the cardiac surgery chief of the University Hospital in Geneva and an internationally recognized cardiovascular surgeon Professor Afksendios Kalangos, who was assisted by doctors and staff of the Institute.

In Kamenica valve operations have been performed before, but never was a human flap transplanted. Mechanical, biological or animal valves were implanted .Homograft or human heart valve, which was specially prepared for this operation, was brought by professor Kalangos, and donated by the Princess Katherine Foundation.

- I am pleased that I am at the Institute of Kamenica, an institution that constantly educates professionals and improves cardiac surgery of congenital anomalies following world trends. Extremely important is the fact that the Institute is technically well equipped and they have trained doctors, ready to engage in international project for the treatment of patients with very complicated health condition - Dr. Kalangos said after the surgery. He emphasized so far he has examined several very young adolescents of 14 and 15 years who require a transplant in Serbia, and announced that their care will be his "next challenge" as he has thirty years of experience in children's cardio surgery and operating of congenital heart flaws.

International cooperation is one of the ways in which the Institute manages to be registered among the leading institutions in the region. According to the Institute Director Dr. Nada Cemerlic-Adzic, thanks to the cooperation of only a few days, beside Dr. Kalangos, Professor Dr. Edward Kiefer from Paris has also conducted a very complicated surgery of arterial port on a vitally susceptible woman. - International cooperation enables assistance to patients who would otherwise have to go abroad to be operated. We always follow the high global standards which are of significant importance, and the arrival of these surgeons was an opportunity to acquire the techniques and work of these great cardiovascular surgeons on the spot - said Dr. Cemerlic-Adzic and added that the Institute by using the latest medical procedures and interventions on a daily basis contributes to the reduction of mortality rates, and has the most modern equipment. All 90 highly specialized physicians with a complete staff of the hospital achieve significant results.

In the Institute, they want to perform interventions such as heart valves transplants continuously, although they primarily depend on the donor. Concerning the training of personnel and technical equipment, such intervention would quickly be able to enter the regular procedure.

1200 open-heart surgeries

The Institute for CVD has performed more than 1200 open-heart surgery and almost 1500 more other operations in the last year. More than 6,000 people were admitted for treatment at the same time.

Danas, 15/3/2010

The Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina

Doctor Kalangos transplanted heart valve in Kamenica

Novi Sad - For the first time at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases in Sremska Kamenica, last weekend human heart valve was transplanted to a 35 years old patient from Novi Sad. Complicated cardio surgery was successfully done by an internationally recognized cardiovascular surgeon, professor Dr. Afksendios Kalangos, head of cardiac surgery at the University Hospital in Geneva, with the assistance of surgeons and medical staff of our institute.

The patient has had two operations in London until she was ten, and a heart valve that prevented normal pulmonary blood supply, is now finally replaced by homograft that was donated by Princess Katherine Foundation.

- Thanks to the heart valve obtained, this patient's normal pulmonary blood supply is enabled. I am pleased that I am at the Institute in Kamenica, which continually educate its specialists and improves congenital heart surgery, in accordance with world trends. I have been cooperating with hospitals in Serbia for four years and have noticed that there is a number of patients waiting for such intervention. It is extremely important that the Institute is technically well equipped and has highly educated professional doctors, who are ready to engage in international treatment project of these very complicated patients, in collaboration with the Foundation of HRH Crown Princess Katherine, who has already helped with many donations to equip hospitals and to treat such patients. I hope that other hospitals that do cardiovascular surgery will be included in this international program. When I came to your country, I have reviewed several very young patients of 14 and 15 years who require transplantation and their care will be my next challenge - said Prof. Kalangos, a doctor with thirty-year experience in children's cardiac surgery and operating the treatment of congenital heart failures. G. Nonin

Pregled, 15/3/2010.

Valve transplantation in Kamenica

For the first time at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases in Sremska Kamenica human heart valve was transplanted in the patient. Complicated cardiac surgery was successfully done, on a 35-year-old patient from Novi Sad, by a world recognized cardiovascular surgeon, professor. Dr. Afksendios Kalangos, head of cardiac surgery at University Hospital of Geneva (Switzerland), with the assistance of surgeons and medical staff of the Institute in Sremska Kamenica. The patient has had two operations in London until she was ten, and a heart valve that prevented normal pulmonary blood supply is now finally replaced with homograft (human heart valve specially prepared for this operation), which was donated by the Princess Katherine Foundation.

- I have been cooperating with hospitals in Serbia for four years and have noticed that there is a number of patients waiting for such intervention. It is extremely important that the Institute is technically well equipped and has highly educated professional doctors, who are ready to engage in international treatment project of these very complicated patients, in collaboration with the Foundation of HRH Crown Princess Katherine, who has already helped with many donations to equip hospitals and to treat such patients. I hope that other hospitals that do cardiovascular surgery will be included in this international program. When I came to your country, I have reviewed several very young patients of 14 and 15 years who require transplantation and their care will be my next challenge - said Prof. Kalangos, a doctor with thirty-year experience in children's cardiac surgery and operating the treatment of congenital heart failures. J.B.

Politika, 15/3/2010.

The first heart valve transplantation in Kamenica

Complicated surgery was performed by Professor Afksendios Kalangos yesterday, head of University clinic in Geneva, a great friend of our country, who has operated more than 30 Serbian patients

For the first time at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases in Sremska Kamenica, transplantation of human heart valves was done on a 35-year-old patient from Novi Sad.

Complicated cardiac surgery was done by an internationally recognized cardiovascular surgeon Professor Afksendios Kalangos, Head of Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic, University of Geneva, Switzerland. The surgeon, of Greek origin, is a great friend of our country and has operated on more than 30 patients in Serbia.

Complex replacement intervention of unhealthy heart valve with human homograft was done yesterday with the assistance of surgeons and medical team of the Institute in Sremska Kamenica. The patient has had two operations in London by the age of ten, and a heart valve that prevented normal pulmonary blood supply was finally replaced yesterday with homograft (human heart valves prepared specifically for this operation), which was donated by the Princess Katharine Foundation. Thanks to the operation and a new heart valves, this young woman now has normal lungs blood supply. Professor Dr. Kalangos was awarded with a St. Sava medal first degree of Serbian Orthodox Church on Friday by His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej, for his humanitarian work and achievements for Serbia. In addition, during this visit, Dr. Kalangos donated an artificial heart pump to the Clinical Center of Serbia; the device worth 150.000 EUR, which allows complex cardiosurgical intervention to be performed, and bridges the waiting time of the heart transplantation of the most difficult patients.

Doctor Kalangos said that he was satisfied with the way the Institute of Kamenica congenital heart surgery is improving, and the way the education keeps pace with world trends, was stated in press release of the Institution.

- I have been cooperating with hospitals in Serbia for four years and have noticed that there is a number of patients waiting for such intervention. It is extremely important that the Institute is technically well equipped and has highly educated professional doctors, who are ready to engage in international treatment project of these very complicated patients, in collaboration with the Foundation of HRH Crown Princess Katherine, who has already helped with many donations to equip hospitals and to treat such patients. I hope that other hospitals that do cardiovascular surgery will be included in this international program. When I came to your country, I have reviewed several very young patients 14 and 15 years old who require transplantation and their care will be my next challenge - said Prof. Kalangos, a doctor with thirty-year experience in children's cardiac surgery and operating the treatment of congenital heart failures.

In addition to interventions that Dr. Kalangos do, only a few days ago at the same place, a very complicated surgery of the arterial port on a vitally susceptible woman was performed by Professor Edward Kiefer from Paris. All this points to importance of international cooperation, which is one of the most important ways to continually advance and adopt new procedures, which are important for the Institute of Kamenica.

- International cooperation has helped those patients who were to be operated abroad. We always follow high international standards, and the arrival of these surgeons was the opportunity to familiarize with the techniques and the work of experts in cardiovascular surgery on the spot. The fact that they came with the help of the Embassy of France and Princess Katherine Foundation confirms that we are greatly respected and trusted by various institutions - said Professor Nada Cemerlic-Adzic, director of the Institute in Sremska Kamenica. O. Popovic

Pravda, 15/3/2010.

Artificial heart valve implanted for the first time at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina

Geneva in Kamenica

For the first time at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina (ICVDV) in Sremska Kamenica human heart valve was transplanted in the patient.

On a 35-year-old patient from Novi Sad, this complicated cardiac surgery was successfully performed, by a world-renowned cardiovascular surgeon, professor Dr. Afksendios Kalangos, head of cardiac surgery at University Hospital of Geneva, with the assistance of surgeons and medical staff of the Institute in Sremska Kamenica.

The patient has had two operations in London by the age of ten, and a heart valve that prevented normal pulmonary blood supply is now finally replaced with homograft (human heart valve specially prepared for this operation), which was donated by the Princess Katherine Foundation.

- Thanks to the heart valve obtained, this patient is allowed normal pulmonary blood supply. I have been cooperating with hospitals in Serbia for four years and have noticed that there is a number of patients waiting for such intervention. In your country, I have observed several very young patients 14 and 15 years old who require transplantation and their care will be my next challenge - said Prof. Kalangos, a doctor with thirty-year experience in children's cardiac surgery and operating the treatment of congenital heart failures.

Within a few days at the Institute, surgeries were performed by Professor Dr Afksendios Kalangos from Geneva and Professor Dr Edward Kiefer from Paris, who performed a very complicated surgery of the arterial port on a vitally susceptible woman. - International cooperation, ongoing education of staff and continuous technological advances provide assistance at the Institute in Kamenica and those patients who should be operated abroad. The Institute attaches great importance to global monitoring of medical trends, and the arrival of these surgeons was the opportunity to familiarize with the techniques and the work of experts in cardiovascular surgery on the spot. The fact that they came with the help of the Embassy of France and Princess Katherine Foundation confirms that we are greatly respected and trusted by various institutions - said Professor Nada Cemerlic-Adzic, director of the ICVDV.

- In addition to visiting surgeons from the highest European and World class, we traditionally cooperate with the hospital in Lecco Italy and Karolin’s Institute in Sweden. Our doctors are invited to participate in certain operations in institutions across Europe, USA and other parts of the world. Medicine in the world is going forward so fast that it is possible to monitor only through direct participation - said Prof. Dr. Cemerlic.

RTS, 10. 3. 2010.

Artificial heart pump - Visit of Afksendios Kalangos

ANCHOR- Cardiosurgery Clinic of the Clinical Center of Serbia (CCS), received an artificial heart pump, the device required for most complex operations of adults who have congenital heart defect. That pump we have is important for the patients, but also for the institution that is preparing to implement a program of heart transplantation, and also to engage in future programs of installing artificial heart as a therapy of the future.

REPORTER- Famous Afksendios Kalangos, the Head of Cardiosurgery of the University Hospital of Geneva who took the title of the best Belgrade resident three years ago, because he saved life of a girl Dijana, is again in Serbia. In the next three days he will help to twelve of our citizens who have a heart defects, among them will be four children, to begin to live better.

AFKENDIOS Kalangos (University Hospital of Geneva) - Yesterday my colleagues presented me patients who were in very serious condition. They have serious heart problems. Many of them have already had one, two operations. If I`m not mistaken, for the last 5 years, i have operated 45 patients. Together with my colleagues from the three institutions we have created a serious multinational new program for what the best instruments, technologically modern equipment are necessary.

REPORTER- As a guest of Karadjordjevic family, professor Kalangos brought a gift, the latest technological development, the artificial heart pump. It costs 150 000 euros, but its real value is much, much more.

Prof. Dr Mile Vranes (Director of the Institute of Cardiology): This is an exceptional machine that will allow us not only to help people who were operated from these severe disease but to the other people who have heart failure and we need to during the postoperative time to be determined time on the machine until the heart recovers.

Prof.. Dr. Dusan Velimirovic (Clinical Center of Serbia): Its’ therapeutic application is that patient who is in preparation for transplantation, and has a very impaired function of the heart, actually receives alive the transplant

HRH Crown Princess Catherine Karadjordjevic: This is for the whole country to has a chance to have a surgery and to have the operations as well as in Europe. So, when Professor Kalangos comes with new ideas, he comes from Europe with our doctors who are the best, but they also need to learn.

REPORTER- The first operation was started at the time when a press conference was in progress. Dragan Vujic will be operated tomorrow. Due to serious heart defect he was operated for the first time when he was only 7 years.

DRAGAN VUJIC (37 years) - I had no problems until a year ago. After that time they found that I have valves and it was that aorta again and the bypass needs to be done.

REPORTER- In the next three days patients of the Clinical Center of Serbia and of the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Sremska Kamenica and of the Children`s Clinics in Tirsova will be operated. Selected are those whose life is in the most endangered at this time in the opinion of experts.

STUDIO B, 10. 3. 2010.

Donation to the Clinical Center of Serbia

THE SPEAKER- Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of the Clinical Center of Serbia received the modern artificial heart pump that will enable the most complex surgeries of patients with congenital heart defects. Donation with the value of more than 150,000 euros was donated by the and the Head of Cardiosurgery of the University Hospital of Geneva prof. Afksendios Kalangos and Princess Catherine Karadjordjevic. During the working visit to Belgrade, prof. Kalangos will operate 12 children and adults with congenital heart defects.

REPORTER- At the end of the last year the first Department for operative treatment of congenital heart flaw of children and adults in Serbia was opened and the project was realized by the professor Afksendios Kalangos and Crown Princess Katherine with the Cardiovascular Institute and Clinic in Tirsova. New donation of the artificial heart pump will allow that more than 60% of people with heart defects to be rescued from more complications during the treatment .

DUSAN VELIMIROVIC- Its therapeutic application is that the patients who are in preparation for transplantation and has a very damaged heart function practically live until the transplantation or it can be used as temporary therapeutic support to acute damaged heart muscle.

REPORTER- Doctor Afksendios Kalangos is visiting Belgrade for the 7th time to take the most complex operations and training of medical doctors. For the next few days he will operate on 12 patients in Tirsova, on the Clinical Center of Serbia and on the Institute in Sremska Kamenica.

AFKENDIOS KALANGOS- These are difficult patients who belong to the so-called redo group of those who were operated once, twice or three times. Many of them are operated on time - in childhood, but due to the development of diseases have to go back to surgery

HRH Crown Princess Catherine- In March 2009. We start equipping of the intensive care of this institute. The goal is the same - a quality and successful treatment.

REPORTER- Each working visit of professor from Geneva tracks donations of equipment whose total value is greater than half a million. Because of everything that he was doing for the patients in Serbia, in 2007 Studio B awarded professor Kalangos “the best Belgrade resident” award .

24 SATA, 11. 3. 2010.

Heart pump worth € 150,000 for the Institute

PRESENTER: Princess Katarina Karadjordjevic and the Head of Cardiosurgery of the University Hospital of Geneva prof. Afksendios Kalangos donated yesterday artificial heart pump to the Cardiosurgery Clinic of the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of the Clinical Center of Serbia. The device is worth more than 150,000 euros and will allow to the cardiosurgents of the Institute to perform complex operations. The machine is donated by the company "Berlin Heart".

BLIC, 11. 3. 2010.

Two meters of artificial veins were implanted to the woman

Sonja Todorovic, Milan Laketic

More than two meters of artificial veins received woman from Ruma, who was operated the day before at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases in Sremska Kamenica, while 12 patients in Belgrade and Novi Sad will solve the problem of life-threatening heart diseases. This is the result of two world-class cardiosurgents who are residing in our country - Professor Dr. Eduardo Kiefer from Paris and professor Afksendios Kalangos from Geneva.

One of the world`s most prominent cardiac surgeon and director of "Groupe Hospital Pitie Salpetriere" from Paris, Professor dr.Edward Kiefer yesterday in Kamenicka Institute, with prof. Dr. Paul Kovacevic and cardiovascular surgeons Dr. Dragan Nikolic, and dr.Lazar Velicki, did a unique operation in southeastern Europe to the patient from Ruma . He removed her blood vessels from the neck into the feet and implanted a new synthetic veins.

- These operations in the former Yugoslav countries and surrounding countries are not performed, and mortality from this disease, if ill persons don`t go to Paris or to some specialized centers in Italy or Switzerland to have surgery, is 100 percent - said Professor Kiefer for Blic. - Because of the enormous enhancement of blood circulation of the chest caused by thoracic rupture of blood vessels, we replace the entire blood vessels of the neck through the thoracic cavity to the stomach and legs to the patient, together with colleagues from Kamenica. We implanted artificial blood vessels more than two meters long - explains the professor Kiefer, adding that has done hundreds of similar operations, but this is one of the ten most complicated that he did.

In addition to this story his student Prof. Dr. Kovacevic describes this in many ways unique intervention:

- Beside the replacement of synthetic venous branches over the carotid veins we connected with the brain, combined artificial blood vessels to the heart, then with the closing of new blood vessels connected to the liver and one kidney. These operations in cardiovascular surgery are known as surgeries of arterial ports, each for themselves is different, because the surgical solutions are making based on the ideas that arise during the operation and lasts up to 17 hours.

With the support of the French Embassy in our country and the Paris Institute "Groupe Hospital Pitie Salpetriere " in the Kamenica, the operations for the entire South Eastern Europe will be done on fall. At the end of autumn, Prof. Kiefer with colleagues who are creators of these operations and with our cardiovascular surgeons in Sremska Kamenica will hold a World Congress which will present recent experiences and promote our Institute on which is next to Dr. Kovacevic several of his colleagues have been educated to perform this operation.

In Belgrade, the famous cardiosurgeon from Geneva, Professor Afksendios Kalangos is operating. A 37year old Dejan Vujic from Bajina Basta will be one of the 12 patients, which will be operated by dr.Kalangos.

- The first heart surgery was performed on me when I was seven years old. A year ago, doctors concluded that heart disadvantage has restored. Now I`m waiting for a second operation. I`m not afraid, because this intervention will be done by the best specialist for heart defect - Dejan said for "Blic".

Swiss specialist who arrived to Serbia’s capital two days ago, will operate four children in the University Children Clinic in Tirsova, five patients at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of the Clinical Center of Serbia and two in the Sremska Kamenica Institute, with support and assistance of our best cardiac surgeons.

Patients who will be operated by professor Kalangos will have the greatest benefit from his visit, but this is also a huge opportunity for young surgeons to learn something from him.

- All patients that will be operated by Dr. Kalangos are complicated cases. For example, Dejan will have three operations. Dr. Kalangos will replace him the aortic valve, make two bypass and solve thoracic aorta constriction, which was done on him when he was small. Thirty years ago he had a graft on that narrowing. However, then a small graft was placed because he was small also. In the meantime, the body grew, aorta grew, but the narrowing remained. Because of that there was a load of the heart valves and disorder functions. So now, instead of the piston forces the blood from the left ventricle to aorta, the blood returns, which caused a disorder of functions of valve. In addition there are two affected blood vessels - explains our famous cardiac surgeon Dr. Dusan Velimirovic and with that is the problem Dr. Kalangos will be facing.

HRH Princess Katharine Karadjordjevic and Dr Kalangos donated yesterday artificial heart pump with the value of more than 150,000 euros to the Cardiosurgery Clinic.

- The pump is the latest technological achievement in the field of assisted circulation and represents the mechanical, external pump, which takes over the function of damaged cardiac chambers and performs the restoration of blood flow through the heart - explains Dr. Velimirovic. This device will allow the treatment of patients with congenital heart defects, and will allow the rescue of more than 60 percent of patients who have a problem with the progressive disorder of the heart function. With the introduction of these methods, the Department of Cardiosurgery acquired conditions for the preparation of realisation of heart transplantation, as well as inclusion in future programs of installing artificial heart as a therapy of the future - says Dr. Velimirovic.

Heart defects are often cause of death

The Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of the Clinical Center of Serbia in 2008. has The Center for the treatment of patients with congenital heart defects of adults whose expert is Dr. Kalangos. During the recent visit of Dr. Kalangosa to the Institute, four workshops for cardiac surgical were organized, and now the fifth has started. In Serbia there are 25,000 patients with congenital heart impairment, but that number is growing from year to year. They require surgical intervention, and treatment is very complex. Congenital heart defects are often cause of death.

Kurir, 11. 3. 2010.

Worthy donation

Artificial heart to the CCS

HRH Princess Katherine Karadjordjevic and a famous cardiosurgeon dr. Kalangos from Geneva donated yesterday artificial heart pump with the value of more than 150,000 euros to the Clinical Center of Serbia.

This device will allow the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, CCS to perform complex heart surgery. The machine is donated by companie "Berlin Heart"which produces this devices.

- This device will be used in the most complex surgical procedures on children and adults with congenital heart defects. I would like to thank to all of our doctors and nurses who are helping Professor Kalangos in his mission of rescuing human lives - said Princess Katherine.

Politika, 11.3.2010.

Heart pump as a gift

Princess Katherine Karadjordjevic and the Head of Cardiosurgery of the University Hospital of Geneva Afksendios Kalangos donated yesterday to the Cardiosurgery Clinic of the Clinical Center of Serbia (CCS) artificial heart pump with the value of more than 150,000 euros.

.This pump is the latest technological achievement in the field of assisted circulation and represents the mechanical, external pump, which takes over the function of the damaged cardiac chambers and performs the restoration of blood flow through the heart

Cardiosurgeon Dusan Velimirovic from the Clinical Center of Serbia says that this device will enable the treatment of patients with congenital heart defects, and will enable the rescue of more than 60 percent of patients who have a problem with progressive heart failure.

- With the introduction of these methods, the Cardiosurgery Clinic acquires conditions for the preparation of realisation of the heart transplant program, as well as inclusion in future programs of installing artificial heart as a therapy of the future, said Velimirovic.

During this stay Dr. Kalangos will operate five adult patients in CCS-in, four children at the Clinic for Cardiosurgery in the University Children`s Clinic, and three patients at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases in Sremska Kamenica.

D.D.K.

Pravda, 11.3. 2010.

Good news

Heart pump as a gift

Princess Katherine Karadjordjevic and the Head of Cardiosurgery of the University Hospital of Geneva Afksendios Kalangos donated yesterday to the Cardiosurgery Clinic of the Clinical Center of Serbia (CCS) artificial heart pump.

The device is worth more than 150,000 euros and will allow to the cardiosurgeons from the Institute to perform complex operations on patients, according to a statement of the Foundation Katherine Karadjordjevic. Pump was donated by the company "Berlin, Heart", the manufacturer.