On August 17, 2023 , the University Clinical Center Tuzla , Clinic for Invasive Cardiology medical team led by Dr. Saša Lukić, and under supervision of Prof. Dr. Matjaž Bunc successfully performed the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Prof. Dr. Matjaž Bunc is a leading expert in the field of interventional cardiology in Europe, head of the Department of Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology Ljubljana University Medical Centre and a full professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Ljubljana. ” This invasive cardiology procedure was introduced at Ljubljana University Medical Centre in 2009, and currently over 300 TAVR procedures are performed annually” said Prof. Bunc.
Percutaneous aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a procedure that involves the replacement of the aortic valve without surgery and general anesthesia, in which the patient is under mild sedation during the procedure. Severe aortic stenosis is a frequent disease of the high risk elderly population. In view of that percutaneous aortic valve implantation is an emergent technique alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement.
“Today, in the era of modern medicine, the replacement of the aortic valve in patients over 75, and often over 65 years of age is performed using this minimally invasive procedure. As a result of continuing education and training of health professionals from the Clinic for Invasive Cardiology we have been able to expand the range of rare medical services that we can offer to our patients. Unfortunately, health insurance funds still do not cover the costs of this modality of treatment, although very often it is the only one in high risk patients with aortic stenosis.” said Dr. Lukić.
Prof. Dr. Denijal Tulumović, acting director of the University Clinical Center Tuzla on this occasion expressed his appreciation for today’s Slovenian expert visit and supervision. “The University Clinical Center Tuzla plans to move towards a high- quality health care system for the benefit of our patients by improving educational programs and introducing new diagnostic and surgical procedures in the near future.” pointed director Tulumović.
Our highly professional medical team from the Clinic for Invasive Cardiology includes Dr. Saša Lukić, Dr. Ivana Iveljić, scrub nurses and technicians Erna Kamerić, Dario Košir, Seid Jaganjac, Edin Hadžihrustić, Hafiza Đedović, Fuad Alibašić, Ademir Delalić and Damir Behaderović, and radiology engineers Ajda Hasanović and Asmir Smajlović.