The first aortic transplant surgery was performed in Vitebsk

The first aortic transplantation surgery has been performed at Vitebsk Regional Clinical Hospital, as reported by Alexander Zenkov, Head of the Cardiac Surgery Department, Candidate of Medical Sciences.

"Our hospital performs a wide range of heart surgeries. However, this operation is unique as it pertains to organ transplantation. Until now, it was only performed in Minsk. On September 29, we performed an emergency surgery on a 73-year-old patient, transplanting a donor aorta. He has now been transferred from intensive care to the cardiac surgery department, and all indicators are normal," explained Alexander Zenkov, who personally conducted the surgery. The pensioner had a prosthesis implanted eight years ago due to aortic occlusion.

However, an infection later occurred, causing rejection and the formation of an aortic aneurysm. Therefore, only biological material could be transplanted; an artificial one would not have been accepted. "When the complications began, the patient was transferred to us from a district hospital. In fact, this operation saved his life," concluded Alexander Zenkov.

Ekaterina Knyazeva, BELTA.