Complex cardiac surgeries with the involvement of foreign experts are carried in Kharkiv

31 january 2013 13:51

Complex children’s cardiac surgeries are performed by Kharkiv cardiac surgeons in cooperation with foreign experts in Kharkiv.

Operations are performed within cooperation with child's fund «International Children's Heart Foundation» at the Institute of general and urgent surgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine.

Simon Gale, the Global Ambassador of the foundation in Kharkiv, emphasized that the mission of the organization is to train Kharkiv surgeons in advanced surgery techniques of children with congenital heart disease. Previously, ICHF cooperated with doctors from Kiev and Odessa. Now cardiac surgeons of the fund work only in Kharkiv.

Foundation specialists come to Kharkiv six times a year. The visit lasts two weeks. Within this time they operate about 20 children with severe cases of illness. Five children have been already operated this year. The representative of organization noted that all the operations have been successful and Kharkiv doctors learn fast.

Along with the experience exchange the foundation helps the institute with the equipment. Everything that foreign experts bring for teaching of Kharkiv surgeons remains in Kharkiv. Among this equipment there are heart and lung machine, anaesthesis unit, blood gas analysis unit, electrosurgical unit, medical ventilators, heating apparatus, coolants, defibrillators and a lot of other equipment.

"In order to bring the experts and buy necessary equipment for Kharkiv we collect donations in America. We also want to involve Ukrainian sponsors who would contribute our help to Ukrainian children," - the ambassador of the organization emphasized.

Foundation representatives noted that five years ago, when cooperation with Kharkiv began, the hospital didn't have necessary equipment for operation of babies. Now the hospital has such equipment. It allows to operate even newborns. For example, today they operate a five-month baby girl who weighs 3.5 kg. In general, cardiac surgeons help children of all ages. In addition to open heart surgeries, doctors use the method of Invasive Cardiology – internal interference to cardiovascular system without open surgery.

According to Darya Kulikova, the doctor of the institute, the cooperation with the foundation gives Kharkiv heart surgeons opportunity to improve skills and to obtain valuable experience.

"Alongside this helps to be aware of all the new techniques that are applied in the world. Cardiologist, cardiac surgeons, perfusionists, anesthesiologists come to us and each of them share the experience with us," - Darya Kulikova noted.

Experts from America, Canada, England, Germany and Lithuania came to Kharkiv this year.