Cardiac surgery in Erlangen: New manager brings a breath of fresh air to the team!

Cardiac surgery in Erlangen: New manager brings a breath of fresh air to the team!

Cardiac surgery at Erlangen University Hospital is under new management. Since 2023, the Department of Cardiac Surgery has combined the areas of pediatric and adult cardiac surgery. At the top is Prof. Robert Cesnjevar, who is responsible for adult patients. With his extensive experience, which he has gained in cardiac surgery programs in Zurich, Erlangen and Hamburg, he would like to further increase the quality of cardiac surgery. Cesnjevar was previously head of the pediatric cardiac surgery department at the university hospital from 2008 to 2021 and thus brings valuable specialist knowledge to master the challenges of modern cardiac medicine.

Cesnjevar emphasizes the importance of high-quality operations and emphasizes that patient trust is of central importance to him. Collaboration with various specialist departments and practicing physicians should be optimized to ensure the best possible care. He has a clear focus on congenital heart defects in particular, but has also continued his training in the treatment of acquired heart defects. His experience in minimally invasive keyhole surgery, including from his time in Zurich, will also be incorporated into his work.

Key points of cardiac surgery

A very central aspect of Cesnjevar's new position is the complex field of pediatric cardiac surgery. Pulmonary atresia (PA), a congenital heart defect that often results in complete occlusion of the pulmonary artery, receives particular attention. In such cases, blood cannot flow from the right ventricle into the lungs, which requires duct-dependent blood flow depending on the defect present. As the department explains, there are various therapeutic approaches that vary depending on the size of the right ventricle.

• Offenhalten des Ductus arteriosus mit Prostaglandinen
• Interventionelle Behandlung durch Durchbohren der Membran, Weitung mit Ballon
• Korrekturoperationen im Neugeborenenalter, zum Beispiel Anlage eines AP-Shunts

Cesnjevar's goal is to accompany these complex procedures with minimal risks and to take into account the long-term effects of heart surgery on the children's psyche. He continually researches new surgical methods, especially for children with only one functioning ventricle.

Research and further development

Another important focus of his work will be the heart transplant program at Erlangen University Hospital. Prof. Cesnjevar plans to also advance optimized artificial heart and ECMO systems as well as innovative approaches in the field of tissue engineering. With the help of outcome analyzes and quality assurance, risks should be further minimized and complex interventions simplified.

With this clear concept, the Erlangen University Hospital is taking a significant step in cardiac surgery. The interface between pediatric and adult heart surgery offers new hope for many families. The close exchange of knowledge and experiences is not only an opportunity for the treatment of the youngest patients, but also for the younger generation of heart surgeons, who can benefit from Cesnjevar's extensive expertise.

The cardiac surgery department at Erlangen University Hospital will not only be a place of excellent medical care, but also a center of innovative research and development in the field of cardiac procedures.