Medical first in Croatia as patient’s life saved with innovative procedure

(Photo: KBC Osijek)

Doctors at Clinical Medical Center Osijek (KBC Osijek) have performed a groundbreaking procedure that saved a patient’s life, marking a milestone in Croatian medical history.

The patient’s life was saved through an innovative surgical procedure.

The patient was unable to undergo a traditional operation due to its risks, so the expert medical team from the Department of Vascular Surgery performed a groundbreaking operation for the first time in Croatia.

The procedure involved inserting a prosthesis through the groin instead of the conventional open surgery.

This marked a historic moment in Croatian medical practice at KBC Osijek, Danas.hr reported.

The patient was suffering from a large aortic aneurysm, and the team utilised a pioneering method of introducing the prosthesis through the groin. This innovative approach was chosen because traditional surgery would have been too risky for the patient.

The prosthesis represents a significant advancement in treatment, and by using it, the doctors at KBC Osijek successfully saved another life.

A New Standard in Vascular Surgery

“We helped a patient with a large aneurysm of the aortic arch – the section where blood vessels branch out to supply the head and arms, including the brain. It’s an area extremely challenging to access through traditional open surgical techniques,” explained Tomislav Ištvanić, Head of the Department of Vascular Surgery at KBC Osijek.

In cases like this, classic open surgery, which involves opening the chest and operating on the blood vessels, would have been life-threatening. Therefore, for the first time in Croatia, this innovative minimally invasive procedure was performed.

“The operation begins with an incision in the patient’s groin and a small incision or puncture in the arm. A wire is guided through the arm, down to the leg, and then out again. Using large introducers, the prosthesis is carefully positioned,” described Vedran Farkaš, a surgeon at the Department of Surgery at KBC Osijek.

Unlike conventional surgery, this method avoids opening large cavities or stopping the heart. However, even this advanced procedure has its critical challenges.

“When positioning the prosthesis, it must be precisely aligned with the artery leading to the neck. To minimise movement during placement, we induce a temporary rapid heart rate, allowing the prosthesis to be opened quickly and accurately,” Ištvanić explained.

(Photo: KBC Osijek)

This precise technique ensures that all blood vessels are correctly realigned, significantly reducing the risk of complications.

“Our goal is to prevent complications such as stroke or ischaemic paraplegia, ensuring normal blood flow to the brain and arms,” added Farkaš.

KBC Osijek has already performed a second similar procedure with success, and the patients have returned home in good health. These achievements highlight the hospital’s expertise and leadership in advanced surgical techniques.

The use of an American-designed prosthesis, combined with the skill and experience of the Osijek surgical team, has positioned them at the forefront of vascular surgery in Croatia.

“Experience with this prosthesis is still relatively limited in Europe. America is slightly ahead, as it’s their technology, but in Europe, we are certainly among the leaders,” Farkaš remarked.

The endovascular team at KBC Osijek previously performed a similar procedure a few months ago.