For the first time, two rare heart surgeries were performed in Lviv

For the first time, two rare heart surgeries were performed through the gaps between the ribs at the Lviv Clinical Emergency Care Hospital. Thanks to this procedure, patients can return to active life in two weeks instead of the usual 2-3 months.

The hospital announced it on Facebook, Rubryka reports.

Thus, for the first time in this clinic, interventions were performed on the mitral valve: prosthetics and plastic surgery through a 5-centimeter gap between the ribs. These two procedures were performed together with Polish surgeons. According to doctors, this helped save patients' lives.

The patients were a 64-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man. Both had an unhealthy mitral valve. Because of this, they were troubled by a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and swelling in their legs.

Eventually, the woman's diseased valve elements were replaced with an artificial one. Instead, the man was "repaired" for damaged elements in the valve structure, restoring its proper function.

Doctors note that this procedure is minimally invasive and helps the patient recover faster from active life.

In recent years, Lviv has periodically performed unique operations that have already saved many lives.