Cardiac surgery, gynecological and pediatric team of “Acibadem Sistina” Hospital performed two surgeries, one after another, to a pregnant woman in the ninth month of pregnancy. After a caesarean section, with the baby being delivered safely, the 34-year-old woman from Skopje underwent a surgery for removing a tumor of the heart. It is another surgery in a series of successful extremely complicated interventions in recent months, placing “Acibadem Sistina” not only at the top of the national healthcare system, but also among the leading hospitals globally. The baby and the mother are in good health and they leave home today.

The patient was diagnosed with a tumor several days ago, during a routine examination, when she complained that she had difficulty breathing. The intervention was successful and now the mother and the baby are in good general condition. It is a rare case of simultaneously performing two surgeries considered as very serious interventions, while “Acibadem Sistina” is the only hospital in the region that could respond to this challenge.

“After complaining of difficulty breathing, we noticed that the patient has a superior vena cava syndrome, with a mild swelling of veins to the neck and the face. We performed an ultrasound that found a huge tumor mass literally to the whole right atrium, making an obstruction of the blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle. We performed the intervention urgently since the woman was in the last month of pregnancy. After the caesarean section, a new surgery was performed for removing the tumor of the heart. The complex gesture lasted for six hours, and such a surgery, performed immediately after the caesarean section, is a real rarity, thus proving once again that we are the best team in the region”, says Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Nikolikj, head of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at “Acibadem Sistina”.

Dr. Gordana Petrovska, head of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the hospital, underlines that due to the complexity of the condition and the possibility of complications, the patient immediately underwent preterm delivery and then an intervention for removing a tumor. “The gynecological team completed the delivery first, to avoid exposure of the baby to an anesthetic during the cardiac surgery. Now the baby is healthy and in great condition without any need for additional therapy. If this had not been done, the consequences could have been fatal. It could have happened that the mother and the baby did not have enough oxygen during the delivery or a part of the tumor could have torn off during labor and they could not survive!”, says Dr. Petrovska.

A tumor of cardiac atrium is a very rare disease. The team of “Acibadem Sistina” notes they are proud for saving the lives of both the young mother and her child.