Since becoming operational in June of last year, the Invasive Cardiology Department at the General Hospital of Prizren has performed around 640 coronary angiographies, of which 230 resulted in the placement of heart stents.

This department, which has one of the most modern infrastructures in the region, treats patients not only from the Prizren region but also from other parts of Kosovo.

All residents of Prizren and beyond who have heart problems can undergo procedures such as coronary angiography and stenting at this department.

The head of the department, Fazli Berisha, emphasized that the work initially started only two days a week, but now operations and treatments are conducted five days a week.

“Invasive Cardiology at the Prizren Hospital began work on June 14, 2024. From June 14 until January 9, we worked twice a week, handling elective cases and acute cases arriving within 24 hours. Since December 9 of last year, we have worked five days a week with an elective list from the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (QKUK), where the Cardiology Clinic referred patients. We prepared and processed patients and, together with the QKUK team, treated them. From January 1 of this year, we also started working five days a week, and every Saturday we have 24-hour on-call duty for acute STEMI and NSTEMI cases,” he said.

All interventions performed in this Invasive Cardiology department at Prizren Hospital have been completed without any complications.

“So far, since June of last year, about 640 coronary angiographies have been performed, of which around 230 were PCI stent placements. Until now, we have had no minor complications; everything has gone smoothly... Until a month ago, we worked with a waiting list from the Dukagjin region, with patients from Peja, Klina, and Istog, while in recent months, we have had patients from Podujeva, Gjilan, Prishtina, Kaçanik—practically from almost all municipalities of Kosovo,” he emphasized.

The Invasive Cardiology Department in Prizren has a total of five rooms available for patients undergoing cardiological procedures.

Moreover, the equipment in this department is among the most advanced in the region.

“The equipment is state-of-the-art – angiography. Initially, the preparation of the room was done... We can say that at the level of Kosovo, but also at the Balkan level, we are competitive regarding equipment and working conditions... We have the catheterization room and five beds for patients... In the Invasive Cardiology service here at Prizren Hospital, coronary angiography and PCI stenting procedures are performed; if needed, the team decides if a stent placement is necessary and carries it out,” said cardiologist Berisha.

Investments in infrastructure and equipment have been made by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency. /B. Ibishi/