Croatia’s first endoscopic cardiac surgery is performed at KB Dubrava

A remarkable medical achievement has taken place at Clinical Hospital Dubrava (KB Dubrava) in Zagreb, where surgeons have successfully performed Croatia’s first endoscopic mitral valve operation on a beating heart.

The groundbreaking procedure, carried out on 20 November 2025, marks the beginning of a new era in cardiac care at the hospital’s Department of Cardiac and Transplant Surgery.

Over the course of two days, three mitral valve surgeries were completed under the mentorship of Professor Farhad Bakhtiary, one of the world’s leading experts in endoscopic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

“With more than 10,000 operations behind him, on both children and adults, Prof. Bakhtiary brought a wealth of experience to Zagreb,” KB Dubrava said.

His distinguished career spans several renowned institutions, including Leipzig University Hospital, where he served for eight years as deputy head of paediatric cardiac surgery before taking on the role of deputy director of the Clinic for Cardiac Surgery.

He later led the Helios Heart Center NRW in Siegburg-Wuppertal for five years. Since June 2021, he has been Director of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Cardiac Surgery in Bonn.

A cutting-edge technique with major benefits for patients

Endoscopic cardiac surgery is considered one of the most advanced fields of modern heart surgery.

In the case of mitral valve procedures, the operation is performed through an incision of only a few centimetres on the right side of the chest, along with several minimal openings for the endoscopic camera and aortic clamp.

(Photo: KB Dubrava)

This minimally invasive approach allows surgeons to carry out highly complex operations with significantly reduced trauma to the chest.

Thanks to the use of specialised instruments and endoscopic imaging, patients benefit from faster recovery, quicker mobilisation, and improved cosmetic outcomes.

Positioning KB Dubrava among Europe’s leading centres

The successful launch of this programme represents a major step forward for KB Dubrava, placing the hospital among Europe’s top cardiac surgery centres offering state-of-the-art treatment options.

The Department of Cardiac and Transplant Surgery emphasised the strong support of the hospital’s management, led by Professor Ivica Lukšić, whose backing was instrumental in bringing this advanced programme to life.

The achievement marks an important moment not only for KB Dubrava, but for Croatian medicine as a whole, signalling its readiness to embrace the most modern cardiac surgery techniques available today.