"We are like children standing on the shoulders of a giant, for we can see all that the giant can see, and a little more".
 

Guy de Chauliac (14th century)
 

The history of Serbian cardiovascular medicine goes back as early as 1876 and is attributed to the pioneer efforts of the famous Professor Voislav Subbotich (1859-1923).

From 1876. to 1914. he had served as an medical volunteer in a several wars and gained a remarkable experience in treating vascular war injuries.
The leading vascular surgeon of that time, Professor Rudolph Mattas, had nothing but the compliments, commenting the article about his results in surgical treatment of vascular trauma, published in the “Lancet”. Professor Subbotich was the first, but not the only one who left his personal landmarks in a bright tradition of Serbian cardiovascular surgery. After dramatic war experiences, Professor Voislav Subbotich has become the first vice-dean of an Medical Faculty (1920) and a chief of lately (1923) founded University Surgical Clinic. This clinic has evolved into 2 famous University Clinics - “the 1st and the 2nd Surgical Clinics”, the last becoming the greatest school, where Serbian cardiovascular surgery was born in 1946. The Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases - Clinical Centre of Serbia, continuing the tradition of the 2nd Surgical Clinic, was formally founded in 1988. Many of the pioneers in Serbian cardiovascular surgery have made their fist surgical steps in the 2nd Surgical Clinic. Most of them are holding a key position in different hospitals and clinics allover the country and abroad.

Numerous cardiac surgical procedures have been adopted as early as they were introduced in clinical practice worldwide.

The first cardiac surgical intervention (pericardiectomy) was performed in 1946. by Prof. Vojislav K. Stojanovic (1906-1991). Only 7 years after Prof. Gibbon has performed his first “open heart” repair (ASD) using an extracorporeal circulation, the same procedure was performed at 2nd Surgical Clinic.

Acad. Prof. Isidor Papo (1913-1996) has implanted the first mechanical valvular prosthesis, at Military Medical Academy in 1965.

The first coronary artery bypass was done by Prof. Borislav Vujadinovic (1922-1997), at the 2nd Surgical Clinic in 1975.

Prof. Josip Sokolic (1930-1998) has performed the first Bentall procedure at Military Medical Academy, in 1984. The same surgeon had performed the first heart transplantation, soon after having left the Military Medical Academy.

Vascular surgical procedures were also introduced soon after their international promotion. The first infra-inguinal reconstruction was performed by Prof. Borislav Vujadinovic, only 8 years after its world premiere made by Prof. Kunlin.

Prof. Ivo Djani Popovic (1915-1986) form "Dr Dragisa Misovic" hospital - Dedinje, Prof. Petar Petrovic (1934-1995) and Prof. Ivan Fajgelj (1919-2002) from Surgical Clinic Novi Sad, have invested a lifetime efforts in developing vascular surgical practice in their centers. All of them have contributed to nowadays high quality in practice of Serbian vascular surgery.

Pacemaker technology in Serbia has made a big steps during past 3 decades.

The first cardiac pacemaker was implanted in 1965. by Dr Dragoljub Bata Adamov (1927-1996), from "Dr Dragisa Misovic" hospital - Dedinje.

Two years later, Prof. Vojislav K. Stojanovic adopted this technology at the 2nd Surgical Clinic, which became one of 5 European reference centers, under subsequent leadership of Acad. Prof. Milan (Bane) Djordjevic (1933-1993).
 

We are stepping into the new Millennium, the era of digital technology and genetic therapy, but having on mind the Hippocrates's oat - we should resist all challenges and "requirements" of contemporary life style, and preserve a place in our hearts and minds for those, who had invested their lives for well-being of our surgical family.

God bless them.