10 000th heart saved in Luxembourg

The National Institute of Cardiac Surgery and Interventional Cardiology (INCCI) performed its anniversary 10 000th heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass technology. 30 years ago, the first surgical intervention of this kind was performed at the St. Elizabeth Clinic. This bypass replaces the pumping function of the heart and does the lungs’ work enriching blood with oxygen. Thanks to the development of this technology, cardiac surgery has taken a unique step forward in its field.

In 2001, INCCI combined cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology at a single site in the Grand Duchy. The devices installed here operate almost every day and have already helped save thousands of lives. Their device helps to manipulate not only the heart, but also the lungs. This turned out to be most useful for the treatment of especially difficult patients in the midst of a pandemic.