Professor Borys Todurov delivered a significant presentation on the transportation of donor hearts during wartime — a topic that deeply impressed European colleagues, highlighting the extraordinary efforts of Ukrainian physicians who continue to save lives under the most difficult conditions.
At present, we are the only team in Ukraine with publications in this journal. Yet this is only the beginning — we have opened the path for Ukrainian cardiac surgery to be represented at the highest international level.
Serhii, a paramedic of the volunteer battalion Hospitallers, lived for three years with an enemy bullet lodged in his heart. Doctors debated whether to remove the bullet. In addition to the injury, Serhii had a congenital heart defect and had already undergone three surgeries as a child.
The conference reflected the integration of priority directions in cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology into the work of the Heart Institute. It demonstrated the Institute’s commitment to maintaining high standards of scientific research and continuous professional development of physicians at the Shupyk National University of Health of Ukraine.
The active participation of Ukrainian specialists in this congress is of great importance for further integration of Ukrainian cardiology into the global community, for the rapid implementation of advances presented at the congress into clinical practice, for the development of scientific research.
Borys Todurov drove to Okhmatdyt to collect the donor heart. That same night, together with his team, he performed the heart transplant at the Heart Institute. Today, Kira is recovering, undergoing rehabilitation, and has a chance for a full future.
This was a historic event: for the first time, Ukrainian transplant specialists had the opportunity to present the results of their work before the largest global medical community. At the invitation of Association Presidents Jon Kobashigawa and Emily Blumberg, Professor Borys Todurov delivered a keynote lecture.
Six-year-old Yevhen received a donor heart after a long and difficult fight for life.
This was a great honor for our team, as for the first time in history our work was presented at such a congress.
This study is the first of its kind in Ukraine to address, from the cardiologist’s perspective, the choice of treatment method for cardiac surgery patients.