Author: BCI

On June 17, 2024, a 56-year-old man was admitted to the Vascular Surgery Clinic of ‘Heart and Brain’ Burgas, in an impaired and unstable general condition, with sudden onset of severe abdominal and lower back pain and increased pulsations around the umbilicus. The patient had a known, established history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, as well as a number of co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, and a malignant bladder neoplasm. All these factors make the medical case a challenge of increased difficulty for vascular surgeons and put the patient’s life at risk.

After extensive blood and imaging studies, including an abdominal organ scan, and the primary diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm was confirmed, the patient was prepared for emergency surgery. It involved not only the abdominal aorta but also the overlying renal arteries bilaterally. The multidisciplinary team of surgeons was formed during the peri-procedural preparation – not only to give the patient the best chance of survival, but also to ensure a better quality of life going forward, especially given the young age at which the man was diagnosed with this rare but severe pathology. […]

The full article is available here in Bulgarian.

Neonatology department is a trademark for quality care

“To Dr. Hristov. Thank you for helping Radi! From Marina.” This short but loving message touched the neonatologists at Mama and I’ in Pleven. Eight-year-old Marina has found her own way to thank the rescuers of her baby brother, Radi, who was admitted to the intensive care unit with severe polyorgan failure from another small hospital in Northwest Bulgaria.

Currently, the neonatology ward of the only maternal and child health clinic of its kind ‘ Mama and I’ is overflowing with young patients. There are 21 children in intensive care alone. They are newborns from all over Northern Bulgaria who need observation, instrumental monitoring and intensive treatment. A team from the ward is ready at any moment to take the special resuscitation vehicle, equipped with a transport couch with respirator, to the next newborn child at risk, in the North East or North West, to be transported to our ward in time. With these words we are greeted by Dr. Andrey Hristov, head of the neonatology department.

You can read the full interview is available here in Bulgarian.

At a solemn ceremony yesterday the Governor of Burgas and patron of the competition, prof. Maria Neykova, the Burgas District Governor and patron of the ceremony, awarded the prize “Personality of the Year 2023”. The big winner is Assoc. Prof. Vladimir Kornovski – leading cardiac surgeon and medical director of the high-tech hospital ‘Heart and Brain’.

Dr. Vladimir Kornovski – the world-class cardiac surgeon who chose the newly built ‘Heart and Brain’ hospital in Burgas over Switzerland and every other cardiac surgery center in the world to save our hearts, won the prestigious award. It received a record 34,826 votes or 55.64% of the people’s approval in all editions of the competition so far.

Traditionally, nominations are made by the public – citizens, institutions, NGOs and initiative committees. Already at the end of the first stage, in January 2024, the organizers announced a record result for the entire history of the contest – 34 826 votes or an impressive 55.64% of all votes.

His patients and colleagues describe him as a dedicated and humble professional who always puts the well-being of the people in his care first. The record number of complex cardiac surgeries performed by him or under his direction in the past year has also brought widespread recognition to the hospital’s teams. To the young doctors, he always encouragingly repeats, “Our knowledge and skills save lives every day”!

In his acceptance speech, Assoc. Kornovski remained true to himself:

“I am touched by this honor and the way the community responded to the nomination submitted by my patients. I think this is a real precedent that shows that kindness, cordiality, respect remain timeless!

The specificity of my profession – to serve the people – obliges me to continue to develop and learn, to prepare and train the young doctors of Burgas and create conditions for teamwork, mutual respect and most of all – humanity in relations with patients.

I am grateful to my family and to ‘Heart and Brain’ – my workplace, where there are all conditions for the development of modern medicine and high technology, freedom of choice of therapeutic solutions and striving for innovation in every step of the healing process. Because I am here today, thanks to all these people!”