Dr. Aleksandar Milutinović, a cardiac surgeon from Brus, has been awarded first prize in New York for his revolutionary coronary grafting technique.
The past year has been extremely successful for Dr. Milutinović, who hails from Brus. Following numerous successful operations in both pediatric and adult cardiac surgery, various educational programs, and the recent defense of his doctoral dissertation, he received major recognition at the 11th International Coronary Congress in New York, where he was awarded first prize.
While it may sound glamorous—like something out of a movie—success on foreign ground, especially at the most prestigious coronary event of the year among the top names in global cardiac surgery, is achieved through hard, persistent work, overcoming obstacles, and steadfast determination.
In an exceptionally strong international competition, in the category “Graft Configuration, Preparation Technique, and Alternative Grafts,” Dr. Milutinović won first place for his work titled: “New Techniques and Approaches in Coronary Surgery — Composite ‘No Touch’ Saphenous Vein Graft and Internal Thoracic Artery Configuration: A New Approach to Myocardial Revascularization Without Aortic Manipulation.”
The congress was organized by Prof. Dr. Gianluca Torregrossa and Prof. Dr. John Puskas, world-renowned authorities in the field. Dr. Milutinović’s presentation lasted three minutes, followed by direct questions from the expert jury—enough to showcase both the idea and its solid scientific foundation. Other winners in different categories included Massimo Baudo from the USA and Dimitri Turliuk from Uzbekistan, demonstrating the high level of competition.
This achievement is another proof that hard work, knowledge, and dedication cannot go unnoticed. It also shows that recognition can be earned purely through merit, even on an international stage like New York.
Dr. Milutinović’s career path is unconventional by Serbian standards. After more than 15 years at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases “Dedinje,” he received an invitation from the University Children’s Clinic “Tiršova,” at a time when he was handling the most complex clinical cases in his previous workplace, with limited opportunities for further professional development.
The move, offering professional growth and new challenges, was a logical and responsible, yet difficult, decision. He credits his family and supportive colleagues at the new institution for easing the transition. Interestingly, Dr. Milutinović had faced sanctions and professional obstacles at his previous job because of this innovative surgical technique, illustrating the old saying that it is hardest to be a prophet in your own village.
- “It happened, and it’s behind me. It wasn’t easy for them either,” he says with a smile. “But this experience taught me the value of remaining consistent and responsible, navigating the challenges of the surgical world. It also reminded me of the constant fatigue cardiac surgeons endure, something I have spoken about before. That is why it’s important for colleagues to stay loyal to the well-being of patients and the development of surgical skills,” Dr. Milutinović emphasized.
Although modest about his achievement, Dr. Milutinović highlights that the innovative graft construction is not groundbreaking per se but is practically significant. It is the first time a combination of the internal thoracic artery and “No Touch” saphenous vein graft has been used where all bypass vascularization is supplied by the internal thoracic artery.
This approach, validated by coronary imaging, challenges established coronary surgery practices and opens new research possibilities and clinical horizons. It is especially useful when there are insufficient grafts, in minimally invasive coronary surgery (where proximal anastomoses to the aorta are most challenging), in patients with peripheral circulation issues, or calcified aortas, and can also be applied routinely for stenoses above 80% in coronary arteries.
Dr. Milutinović initially conceived the idea accidentally during a miscalculation of graft length but decided to proceed, inspired by similar work using the radial artery by other successful surgeons (Dr. Zhan Mitrev from Skopje and Dr. Željko Bojović from “Dedinje”). This was the first case using a vein graft as a substrate.
Despite limited support from superiors, he successfully performed this graft construction ten times with good outcomes. His innovative approach has now been internationally recognized, earning him first prize in exceptional competition. Dr. Milutinović also received a monetary award and an invitation to collaborate with colleagues from Japan and South Korea, where coronary surgery techniques are highly advanced and supported by numerous studies.
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Source: Kurir, Foto: Privatna arhiva