Surgeons at the University of Szeged were the first in Europe, and the third in the world, to implant a new type of heart valve-containing vascular prosthesis, the university's communications office said in a statement on Thursday.
The innovative procedure involved implanting a biologically derived heart valve in two young patients with congenital heart disease. The surgery was performed on János Hadabás and János Attila Szikora, who had undergone multiple heart operations since childhood. Both patients reported feeling significantly better after the procedure and expressed confidence that the new solution would ensure proper heart function for years to come.
The novelty of the procedure lies in the placement of the biologically derived heart valve. Instead of using the manufacturer's recommended anatomical position, the surgeons, led by Gábor Bari and Sándor Varga, implanted it in a different location. This innovative approach is expected to provide longer-lasting results, reduce the need for future heart surgeries, and improve the patients' quality of life in the long term.
The heart valve, made from calf pericardium, triggers minimal inflammatory response and absorbs little calcium, allowing it to function properly for longer periods. The Szeged team developed the new application method after Bari learned about the device during a professional visit to California in 2025.
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