Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery

Head prof. Rimantas Benetis MD, PhD
Address: Eivenių Str. 2, LT-50161, Kaunas
Phone: +37037326433, +37037326191
E-mail: kardiochirurgijos.klinika@kaunoklinikos.lt

A cardiac surgery center in Kauno klinikos was established in 1957 and since then it has been a cradle for many significant inventions. Original therapeutic techniques, such as electric cardiac stimulation, cryo- and laser ablation of arrhythmogenic lesions were introduced for the treatment of serious heart rhythm disorders.
The Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery has been restructured to include four divisions, devoted for cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, and for cardiac anesthesia and intensive care. A total number of surgeries performed in the Department exceeded 4000, with over 1000 cases of complex cardiac surgery conducted with artificial blood circulation.
The head of the Department prof. Rimantas Benetis is a world known expert in the field of valve reparative surgery and coronary bypass surgery. He carried out the first heart transplant in Kaunas, the first lung transplant and the first heart-and-lung transplant in the Baltic States.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Cardiac surgery procedures performed in the Department include coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve repair/replacement, thoracic aortic disease treatment, combined valve repair and CABG surgery, congenital heart defects surgery, heart transplant, lung transplant, heart-and-lung transplant, implantation of heart-assist (or ventricular-assist) devices, etc.
Vascular surgeons perform reconstructive vascular surgery of cervical arteries, abdominal aorta and its branches, peripheral arteries, varicose vein and venous ulcer treatments, and interventional radiology procedures.
Thoracic surgery services provided in the specialized unit include management of traumatic chest injuries, surgery for esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumours and lung cancer, tracheal reconstructive surgery and surgical treatment of suppurative lung diseases.

EDUCATION

The Department provides qualification raising courses for doctors from all over Lithuania. Since 2007, it welcomes cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons and nurses from the Republic of Kazakhstan and other overseas countries to master-classes organized on specific topics in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, cardiac anaesthesiology and post-operative care.