The cardiology team at Acibadem Sistina Hospital successfully performed five TAVI procedures in patients with severe aortic stenosis in a single day, using a modern, minimally invasive approach. These complex interventions were carried out with full coverage by the Health Insurance Fund, following the patients’ prior inclusion on the official waiting list.
The procedures were performed by a highly experienced team of interventional cardiologists, including Zharko Hristovski, MD, PhD, Prim. Slobodan Antov, MD, MSc, Igor Balevski, MD, PhD, as well as Dimitar Dushkoski, MD, Nikola Lazovski, MD, Zlatana Petkovska, MD, Aleksandar Radoeshki, MD. The interventions were supported by the entire cardiology team, cardio-anesthesiologists from the Department of Cardiac Surgery, and specialized nursing staff from the Department of Cardiology.
“These results confirm the high level of expertise and preparedness of our cardiology team to address even the most complex challenges. We are also grateful to the Health Insurance Fund for enabling patients to access this advanced intervention at no personal cost, within a setting of top-tier medical infrastructure. For us, this represents yet another opportunity to provide a better and longer life for patients who require such treatment,” said Zharko Hristovski, MD, PhD, interventional cardiologist at Acibadem Sistina Hospital.
The decision to apply the TAVI procedure was made by the hospital’s Heart Team, composed of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, further underscoring the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of complex cardiovascular diseases.
The patients, aged between 70 and 85, presented with significant comorbidities and had undergone previous cardiac surgeries, further increasing the complexity of the interventions. Each case was carefully evaluated and treated on an individual basis, and all procedures were completed successfully.
Following the interventions, four of the five patients were discharged the next day in stable general condition, while the remaining patient is expected to be released for home care within the next two days.
TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) is a modern technique for implanting an artificial aortic valve via a transcatheter approach, eliminating the need for conventional open-heart surgery and sternotomy. The procedure is most commonly performed through the femoral arteries in the groin and offers numerous benefits, including shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and a significantly reduced risk of complications.
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