HRH CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE FOUNDATION AND PROFESSOR KALANGOS DELIVER ARTIFICIAL HEART PUMP WORTH OVER 150,000 EUROS TO CLINICAL CENTRE OF SERBIA

Belgrade, 10 March 2010 – HRH Crown Princess Katherine and Prof. Dr Afksendyios Kalangos, Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at the University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland delivered an artificial heart pump to the Clinic for cardiac surgery at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of the Clinical Centre of Serbia. This machine, worth over 150,000 Euros, will enable cardiac surgeons at the Institute to perform complicated operations on patients. The machine was donated by the Berlin Heart, Company from Berlin, which manufactures artificial heart pumps with the same name.

The press conference took place at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases where besides HRH Crown Princess Katherine and Professor Kalangos, where also present Professor Dr Mile Vranes, Director of the Clinic for cardiac surgery and Professor Dr Dusan Velimirovic, cardio surgeon and organizer of cardiac surgery workshop at the Clinic for cardiac surgery, Professor Dr Dimitra Kalimanovska-Ostric, from Clinical Centre of Serbia and Professor Dr Slobodan Ilic, from University Children’s Hospital.

Addressing the numerous journalists at the press conference, HRH Crown Princess Katherine emphasized: “This machine will be used during the most complex surgical procedures on children and adults with congenital heart defects. I would like to thank all our doctors and medical staff who are assisting this extraordinary surgeon, Professor Kalangos, in his mission in saving lives.“.

Professor Kalangos addressed the journalist and his colleagues and expressed his gratitude to HRH Crown Princess Katherine and her Foundation for their continuous effort in improving conditions in cardiac surgery institutions in Serbia and spoke about the good cooperation experience he has with his Serbian colleagues. Professor Kalangos emphasized he was very happy that the multi-national programme of treatment of congenital heart defects is functioning in Serbia. The device was donated today to the Clinic for cardio surgery will be used for pre and post operative treatment, and will help up to 60% of patients who receive surgical treatment. It is one step further towards heart transplantation, added Professor Kalangos.

During his stay in Serbia, Professor Kalangos will perform operations on 12 adult and children patients at the Clinic for cardiac surgery, Children’s Hospital and Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases in Sremska Kamenica.