Vascular surgery in Košice and in the region was fully developed after 1982 – after the relocation of the Department of Surgery at Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University (LF UPJŠ) and University Hospital (FNsP) from the premises on Rastislavova street 43 to the new premises on Trieda SNP Street as a separate subdepartment and vascular surgery with 30 beds for vascular patients. Since 1989, the Head of the subdepartment MUDr. Mária Frankovičová and team of her co-workers have developed the field of vascular surgery at the First Department of Surgery at LF UPJŠ and FNsP (with MUDr. F. Arendárčik, MUDr. M. Kubíková, MUDr. J. Blažejová, MUDr. P. Samek, MUDr. P. Závacký and MUDr. N. Torma).
It should be emphasized that the team of vascular surgeons within the activities of the subdepartment of Vascular Surgery and the First Department of Surgery LF UPJŠ and FNsP have participated in the development of transplant surgery for 15 years at the University Hospital, Trieda SNP Street.
On January 1, 2005, the subdepartment of Vascular Surgery at the First Department of Surgery was delimitated and affiliated to the East Slovakian Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (VÚSCH). 20 years of development of vascular surgery at the First Department of Surgery has resulted in the establishment of an independent Department of Vascular Surgery. As a part of the development process of vascular surgery, a new modern operating room was built within the University Hospital operating suite. Prof. MUDr. Mária Frankovičová, PhD. became the Head of the Department. After delimitation, the team of surgeons – MUDr. M. Kubíková, PhD., MUDr. F. Arendárčik, MUDr. N. Torma, PhD., MUDr. Peter Samek, PhD., MUDr. M. Tomečko and MUDr. A. Smola worked at the Department of Vascular Surgery. Later, MUDr. V. Sihotský, PhD., MUDr. Š. Pataky, MUDr. M. Voľanská-Závacká and MUDr. J. Pastvová-Pobehová joined the team.
The Department of Vascular Surgery has provided medical and preventive services for the East Slovakian region. Within the East Slovakian Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (VÚSCH), the Department applied a strict division system of economic management. Since January 1, 2006 VÚSCH became a joint stock company.
After delimitation and becoming independent the number of surgical procedures within VÚSCH was increased by 50% and then by 100%. The number of outpatient examinations within the Hospital and within Košice has increased sharply. Vascular surgeons have been and still are asked to participate in serious operations in Košice District hospitals.
On January 8, 2007, the Department of Vascular Surgery was transformed into the Department of Vascular Surgery at Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University and the East Slovakian Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, jsc. The Department has developed a program of reconstruction procedures on the carotid vascular bloodstream, restorative procedures on upper extremities, reconstruction of the lower limbs, vascular accesses for haemodialysis and with the assistance of radiologists they have developed hybrid operations (radiointervention + surgery), angiosurgical procedures in the aortoiliac stream, and surgical procedures for venous system.
The Department of Vascular Surgery Faculty of Medicine UPJŠ and VÚSCH, jsc. in Košice was the first established department at Faculty of Medicine in Slovakia.
Prof. MUDr. Mária Frankovičová, PhD., the Head of the Department of Vascular Surgery LF UPJŠ and VÚSCH, jsc. was appointed as the Chief expert for vascular surgery at the Ministry of Health by the Minister of Health on July 16, 2007 and MUDr. Mária Kubíková, PhD. was appointed as the Košice District expert.
The establishment of the Department of Vascular Surgery has significantly contributed to the improvement of quality of surgery teaching. Education of doctors in the region has improved the availability of the care for vascular patients as well as the quality. The care for vascular patients has been improved by extending the range and complexity of angiosurgical procedures, by developing endovascular treatment and by permanent improvement of diagnostic procedures. In 2008, the programme of intervention procedures started to develop.
Prof. Mária Frankovičová has always placed a great emphasis on the training of young doctors. The Department provides 24-hour constitutional emergency care.
The Department of Vascular Surgery in Slovakia has successfully developed a comprehensive programme of the reconstructive vascular surgery. The focus is on the salvage of endangered limbs, as well as on dealing with complications after endovascular procedures and solving complex vascular access.
Currently the specialized Department of Vascular Surgery at LF UPJŠ and VÚSCH led by doc. Zavacká has been performing the largest number of vascular reconstructions in Slovakia for many years. It has supra-regional scope and cooperates with the departments of vascular surgery abroad. The Department Staff are very active in publishing and lecturing activities at congresses and symposiums and on foreign and domestic professional events. They are involved in the organization of congresses on vascular surgery, and actively cooperate with students on Students Scientific conferences at Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice.
