“I’m really a girl from Weezenland”

One of Rollina’s highlights in the 25 years of Esala’s existence. “As surgical assistants, we have the opportunity to perform operations ourselves. We remove a vein from the leg or an artery from the arm so that the thoracic surgeon can perform the bypass. Previously this was done by a large incision, but now by a method called endoscopic vascular harvesting. Later, it began offering training in this method to physician assistants and physician assistants, especially in Switzerland and Germany.

“It’s hard work sometimes, especially when you’re called in at night. Even then my specialty is the nicest one. There have been many great innovations in recent years. For example, I was one of the founders of the TAVI (trans-incision aortic valve surgery) program In the thigh or chest). In addition, the da Vinci robot was presented to us. Very special, because robotic surgery for heart operations is still unique in the Netherlands.

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“Of course there were also more difficult periods. Integrating with Sofia Hospital and working with colleagues who were used to a different way of working was definitely a big challenge. We had to get used to the new building we moved to in 2013 at first. Every now and then I think with nostalgia To the simple square building of De Weezenlanden in the city centre. Yes, I really am a Weezenland girl.

“Covid and post-Covid times were difficult for many of us. At first there were only a few surgeries, and then we had to perform the necessary remedial operations. We, as surgical assistants and anesthesia staff in cardiac surgery, also suffered indirectly from the problems at the center. Cardiac. As soon as you say somewhere that you work in cardiac surgery, people immediately point to it. Too bad, because the cardiac center is much more than that. I am convinced that we can turn that page again in the near future.