Unique surgical operations

Minimally invasive heart surgery is a unique type of surgery performed by single clinics in the Russian Federation. Minimally invasive mitral and tricuspid valves surgery as well as coronary artery bypass surgery through minithoracotomy with endoscopic harvesting of the internal thoracic artery are popular in our medical institution. In 2018, for the first time in the Russian Federation, mitral valve repair with 3D HD visualization was performed. To date, we have the greatest experience in performing minimally invasive operations with 3D HD visualization.

The Ozaki procedure is an innovative treatment for aortic valve disease. This technique was developed by Professor Shigeyuki Ozaki in Japan about ten years ago. The Ozaki procedure involves the formation of new leaflets of the aortic valve from its own pericardium. Neocuspidization replicate the natural anatomy of the aortic valve. This operation was performed for the first time in our medical institution and currently we have the largest experience in our country (more than 800).

Aortic surgery is one of the most difficult interventions of cardiovascular surgery. Our medical institution has a great experience and its own development of surgical equipment and anesthesia demonstrating good immediate and long-term results. Aortic surgery including aortic dissection is often in our institution. During our work we have performed more than 1 thousand operations on the aorta.

The coronary artery bypass surgery is the most frequently performed in the world. There are many methods for heart revascularization: “on pump” and “off pump”. Our surgeons are qualified in both techniques. As is known, arterial grafting has a longer-term patency compared to venous ones. Using multiple arterial revascularization, we are trying to improve not only the immediate results of surgery but also long-term ones.

Transcatheter valvular replacement is a method that appeared in the arsenal of practicing clinicians at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Prior to this, valve replacement required the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and, in most cases, a large incision. Transcatheter implantation of a new valve is performed according to the same principle as percutaneous intervention: under X-ray control without opening of the heart cavities. Our clinic has the greatest experience in transcatheter aortic valve replacement using the innovative system MedLAB-CT. This system was developed in Penza at closed joint stock company “MedEng” with the direct participation of our surgeons. The uniqueness of the valve lies in the fact that it is completely made of synthetic materials, thus, should not undergo biodegradation in the body. Operations of this type began to be carried out in 2015. To date, our specialists have performed more than 450 interventions.

Surgical treatment of complicated forms of ischemic heart disease is one of the most difficult in cardiac surgery. Low contractility of myocardium in combination with left ventricular aneurysm and mitral insufficiency are the consequences of myocardial infarction. Many medical institutions refuse such patients. We have extensive experience in the surgical treatment of this pathology. A thorough preoperative examination (MRI of the heart, echocardiography, and angiography) gives us the opportunity to predict an improvement in myocardial contractility, an increase in the stroke volume of the left ventricle. During our work, we have operated on more than two thousand patients with complicated forms of coronary artery disease.

Endovascular interventions for congenital heart disease are the new techniques introduced in recent decades. We use a wide range of procedures like this. Devices used today for closing septal defects can effectively and safely eliminate this cardiac pathology. Along with the use of well-proven and widely used devices we are working on the development and implementation of new devices together with CJSC “MedEng”. Endovascular treatment of obstructive congenital valvular pathology has become possible and is successfully used by our specialists.

We carry out diagnostics and treatment of particularly complex pathologies, including complex forms of transpositions of the great arteries, pulmonary atresia, heart tumors in children, disease requiring hemodynamic correction, etc.

As part of reconstructive valvular surgery in children, we use the Ozaki procedure and have the most experience in this age group in Russia. In addition, our medical institution performs surgeries on children in the neonatal period. The spectrum of diseases includes critical congenital malformations that require immediate elimination due to an extremely poor prognosis without timely surgical treatment. It is important that after the surgical treatment, dynamic monitoring of the operated children is carried out in the long term period.