KTU Farabi Hospital Team Participated in Health Tourism Fair in Istanbul

Türkiye Making Strong Proggress in Health Tourism Sector:

KTU Farabi Hospital Team Participated in Health Tourism Fair in Istanbul

The “1st Turab Expo Health Tourism Fair (I. Expo Health Tourism)”, a significant event aimed at increasing collaboration with partners and contribute to the Turkey’s share in the health tourism sector, took place with the participation of Karadeniz Technical University and representatives of Trabzon Provincial Health Directorate. The fair, organized by the Turkish-Arab Countries Cooperation Association (TÜRAP), was organized with the support of the Ministry of Commerce. Representatives from 22 Arab countries and 5 Turkish Republics attended the fair.

The event stood out as an important step for Turkey’s brand recognition and visibility in the Arab geography within the health tourism sector. Hospital managers, health tourism company representatives, and healthcare managers from Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa came together during the fair. Representatives conducted fruitful meetings for the future.

Among the participants of the fair were Dr. Serdar ÇAM, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Honorary Consul of Tunisia in Izmir and President of TÜRAP Sabuhi ATTAR, Ali Alperen KAÇAR, Deputy General Director of International Trade Services of the Ministry of Commerce of the Republic of Turkey, Dr. Firas Ahmed Mohamed QUDAH, Chairman of the Health and Environment Committee of the Jordanian Parliament, Ambassador Abdelhamid HAMZA of the League of Arab States Mission, Ambassador Saeed Thani Hareb AL DHAHERI of the United Arab Emirates in Ankara, Dr. Ahmed Hussien Shehata ELSOBKY, Deputy Minister of Health and Environment of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

A strong delegation from Trabzon also attended the 1st Turabexpo Health Tourism Fair. From our University’s Farabi Hospital; Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Celal TEKİNBAŞ, Deputy Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Abdülkadir GÜNDÜZ, Health Tourism Coordinator Prof. Dr. Ahmet AYAR, along with the Director of Health Services of Trabzon Provincial Health Directorate Opr. Dr. Yavuz ÇAKIROĞLU, KTU Institutional Communication Coordinator of the KTU Şeyda ÖZGENÇ YILMAZ, and Kenan ÖZLÜ, the manager of Destination Tourism (among to the  KTU Farabi Hospital’s contracted health tourism companies), attended the fair. During the fair, KTU Farabi Hospital’s high standards and successful practices in the field of health services were presented to participants through special presentations. Through this opportunity, KTU Farabi Hospital made a significant contribution to Turkey’s brand recognition and visibility in the Arab geography, showcasing its expertise in healthcare services to representatives from the Arab world.

She Beat Cancer Cancer Again: Operated at KTU Farabi Hospital for 19 Years Later-Relapsed Cancer

Seringül KARAKAYA, a 54-year-old patient who underwent surgery for ameloblastoma (a bone tumor) in her jaw in 2004, continued to live a healthy life through regular follow-ups for 19 years. In March 2023, she noticed swelling on the right side of her face and sought assistance from the KTU FarabiHospital Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic. Following various examinations, it was determined that the tumor had affected her cheekbone this time. After completing the necessary tests and imaging, the patient’s condition was evaluated by Assoc. Prof. Bengü ÇOBANOĞLU. It was found that the tumor had not spread to other parts of her body, and the patient underwent surgery to remove both the tumor and her cheekbone. After the wound healed, the patient regained her health.

Assoc. Prof. Bengü ÇOBANOĞLU, who led the surgical team, stated the following about Seringül KARAKAYA’s treatment process: “We identified the tumor affecting her cheekbone and promptly removed the tumor through surgery. The post-operative wound healing was successfully completed. I am happy to got involved in Seringül’s treatment. It brings me great satisfaction to see her recover her health.”

Assoc. Prof. Bengü ÇOBANOĞLU, who also raised awareness about head and neck tumors, added, “Tumors occurring in the head and neck region can lead to serious health problems. Therefore, individuals who experience symptoms such as non-healing wounds, swelling in the neck, hoarseness, and oral ulcers should consult ENT specialists without delay. Early diagnosis increases the chances of successful treatment. Additionally, regular check-ups and healthy lifestyle habits are of great importance in preventing head and neck tumors. Do not neglect your health and do not hesitate to seek support from experts in case of any doubt. I recommend undergoing regular check-ups and taking your symptoms seriously for a healthy life.”

Patient Seringül KARAKAYA expressed her satisfaction with the treatment process, stating, “I am extremely satisfied with the treatment I received at the KTU Farabi Hospital’s Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic. Assoc. Prof. Bengü ÇOBANOĞLU and her team were very supportive during the every step of the way, providing information and maintaining close communication. The nurses and other healthcare personnel met my needs with their friendly attitudes and provided support at all times. They helped me maintain high morale throughout my treatment. Thanks to the treatment I received at the KTU Farabi Hospital’s Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic, I regained my health, and I am very happy about it. I am grateful to the entire healthcare team and wish them continued success.”

A High-Risk 81-Year-Old Patient Received Cure with Non-Surgical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Performed at KTU Farabi Hospital

During the evaluation conducted at the Cardiology Department of KTU Farabi Hospital, it was determined that Hürrem KARAKAŞ, an 81-year-old patient residing in Gümüşhane Kürtün District, who had undergone open-heart surgery nine years ago to replace the aortic valve, had severe stenosis and insufficiency in the aortic valve. The patient had developed heart failure, and fluid had accumulated in the lungs, causing significant shortness of breath. After the fluid in the lungs was drained by the Thoracic Surgery Department, the patient was referred to the Cardiology Department, where a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure, also known as valve-in-valve, was performed by the cardiology team by inserting a valve within the previously surgically implanted aortic valve. The valve replacement procedure was carried out by the team consisting of Prof. Dr. Merih KUTLU, Prof. Dr. Ömer GEDİKLİ, cardiology nurses, technicians, and anesthesiologists. After this vital procedure, the patient was monitored in the Coronary Intensive Care Unit for one night and in the Cardiology Ward for another night before being discharged in good health.

 

Prof. Dr. Merih KUTLU provided the following information about the procedure:

“The TAVR procedure, which involves a non-surgical aortic valve replacement, is performed on patients who are elderly, have additional health problems, are not suitable for general anesthesia, or have health conditions that make them unsuitable for surgery, and who have calcification and deterioration of the aortic valve. Our TAVR procedure, which takes approximately one hour, is similar to a stent procedure performed in the Coronary Angiography Laboratory, where we enter through the femoral artery in the groin without opening the chest or stopping the heart. Since we perform the procedure without putting the patient to sleep, we eliminate the risks associated with anesthesia. It also prevents the risks of a new operation that may develop in patients with respiratory and kidney insufficiency or those who have previously undergone heart surgery. Following the TAVR procedure, we keep our patients in the Coronary Intensive Care Unit for one night for monitoring purposes and mostly discharge them from the hospital the next day or within one day. Patients can quickly return to their daily lives. The decision on whether TAVR procedures will be performed or not is made by a council consisting of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery professors. In fact, during the cardiological evaluation of our 81-year-old patient who had a bioprosthetic aortic valve implanted through open-heart surgery nine years ago and presented with shortness of breath complaints, we detected severe stenosis and insufficiency in the aortic valve. We successfully performed the non-surgical aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure by placing a valve within the surgically implanted aortic valve.”

Hürrem KARAKAŞ, expressing her satisfaction after the treatment, said, “I have been suffering from heart disease for years. When my symptoms worsened, I visited KTU Farabi Hospital. Prof. Dr. Merih KUTLU told me that there are non-surgical solution options, which made me very happy. Indeed, as Merih Hoca said, I had a very comfortable treatment process both before and after the procedure at the hospital. I express my endless gratitude to everyone involved. May Allah bless them all. Thanks to this, we were able to receive treatment in our own region without having to go to big cities.”

Receıved Treatment in Trabzon went into Remıssıon and Became a Trabzonspor Fan

13-year-old Koray Yusuoğlu experienced shortness of breath after receiving an elbow blow to his chest during preparations for the U-14 National Football Team selection, five months ago. He was urgently taken to a hospital in Izmir. The tests revealed the presence of Chylothorax (a medical condition characterized by accumulation of fatty fluid in the lung cavities due to injury to the lymphatic vessels). The patient had severe shortness of breath and palpitations, and various interventions were carried out in Izmir. Firstly, interventional radiology and pediatric surgery specialists attempted to identify the source of the leakage. As these interventions were not successful, the patient underwent surgery on both lungs and the abdominal cavity by Thoracic Surgery specialists. Unfortunately, these interventions did not provide the desired results, and the patient’s distress worsened. Throughout the long periods of intensive care, Koray’s family never lost hope. The family continued to make efforts for their son’s recovery. After extensive searching, Koray was brought to Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) Farabi Hospital by air ambulance.

Prof. Dr. Hasan DİNÇ, Prof. Dr. Celal TEKİNBAŞ, Prof. Dr. Atila TÜRKYILMAZ, and Prof. Dr. Ali GÜNER from KTU Farabi Hospital carefully examined Koray’s condition and developed a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment plan. Based on the investigations and examinations, it was determined that surgery in the abdominal region would be the most suitable option for Koray. The surgery was a complex and meticulous process. The source of the problem was successfully eliminated through a major operation lasting approximately 7 hours involving the participation of Interventional Radiology, General Surgery, and Thoracic Surgery teams. The postoperative recovery process was closely monitored. Thankfully, the accumulation of fatty fluid leaking into the lungs, chest, and abdominal cavities was resolved. The multidisciplinary approach of the diagnosis and treatment team, combined with the meticulous work of the expert doctors and nurses, enabled Koray to regain his health.

Prof. Dr. Celal TEKİNBAŞ, in his statement about the process, said, “Damage to lymph tissue due to changes in air pressure is a very rare pathology. With the efforts of Interventional Radiology, we were able to identify the tear areas and pathology; our surgical intervention, follow-up, and treatment yielded results, and Koray regained his health. Like all of our patients, we were delighted to see Koray recover. We believe that our patient, who is young, vibrant, and will be a very important athlete in the future, has overcome his problem and returned to his normal life. The resolution of his problem and ensuring his return to a normal life in the future delighted our entire team.”

Koray’s family expressed their gratitude to the doctors and healthcare personnel at KTU Farabi Hospital. Thanks to the professional interventions and human-centered approaches of all hospital staff, Koray regained his health. Koray’s father, Kadir Yusuoğlu, shared his feelings, saying, “We have been going through a very difficult process for five months. Our child underwent multiple surgeries. Unfortunately, we could not find a cure in Izmir and had to come to Trabzon. Although our minds were constantly with our child, being in an unfamiliar city also worried us. However, the attention shown to us always made us feel at home. Our treatment process is over. We will have a follow-up in a week. That’s why we are currently guests in the home of a Trabzon family we have never met before. This is very valuable to us. We are very grateful to everyone who supported us during this process. They made great efforts and became instrumental in our son’s recovery. They contributed to both our child’s well-being and our happiness. May God bless them all. May God protect them from harm,” he expressed.

Koray is eagerly awaiting the day he will return to Izmir and the fields after his follow-up appointment in a week. Koray, who was previously followed by the National Team coaches, is closely monitored by the officials of GRI Sigorta Gültepespor. Before his injury, Koray was a big fan of Fenerbahçe, but now he wears the Trabzonspor jersey as a tribute to the Trabzonspor doctors who facilitated his healing.

Koray’s recovery gives him hope to return to the fields. This process, which is a turning point for him, further fuels his passion for football. In addition to regaining his health, the attention from the National Team and GRI Sigorta Gültepespor officials provides him with morale and motivation. Koray’s story once again demonstrates the power of sports and how people can overcome challenges they encounter in life.

Professor. Dr. Adnan çalık met with his patients in Batumi

Within the scope of medical tourism, the professor from the General Clinic of KTU Farabi Hospital. Professor Dr. Adnan çalık met with his patients in Batumi, Georgia. They showed great interest in the meeting even from other cities. The Explanation of Professor Dr. Adnan çalık was : “There is a need for health services in georgia our neighboring country . And we will continue to help our neighboring country Georgia with all the means we have . Today we viewed our patients who have concern in many sector’s .KTU Farabi hospital is the most equipped hospital in this region and in this way we can easily refer to our patients who are related to other disciplines to the relevant doctors in our hospital

The patient who could not swallow even water due to a tumor in his mouth regained his health with the operation performed at KTU Al-Farabi Hospital.

When 65-year-old Mahmoud Burhan, who had an intraoral wound that started six months ago and did not heal, spread to his lips and prevented him from eating and swallowing, the patient presented to the ENT clinic of KTU Farabi Hospital. Dr. Benko Gubanoğlu: it was determined that the mass was malignant and had spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, and surgery was planned for the patient.The patient was evaluated by an anesthesiologist prof. Dr. Bahanur Cicic was transferred to the operating room, Binku Gubanoğlu performed as an assistant in the ENT clinic. And her team had an operation to remove all the diseased tissues and clean the lymph nodes in the neck. And in the same surgical session, Dr. Mehmet Oralulu, Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic, cosmetically correcting the shape of his mouth and lip. The patient recovered in a short time and is ready to eat and be discharged from the hospital
And in the evaluation of Dr. Bingu Chopanoğlu to Operation, “Head and neck cancers make up a large proportion of all body cancers. Bingu Chubanoglu went on to talk about the disease as follows: Head and neck cancers make up 9% of all body cancers. When we say head and neck cancers, cancers of the lips, tongue of the mouth and the palate. The inner cheek and the nose and throat area fall into this group as well.
Oral cavity cancers are the second most common head and neck cancer.
The oral cavity, which includes areas such as the lips, tongue, top of the mouth, hard palate, and buccal mucosa, is a more dangerous area compared to other head and neck cancers due to the course of the cancer.
The most important point in treating these patients is to determine the appropriate treatment for the stage of the disease and to find the most appropriate approach for the patient with careful team work during treatment planning.
Our Al-Farabi Hospital makes the final decision on the treatment that will be offered to patients through the councils, which is one of the requirements of a university hospital. Each patient is evaluated by our expert trainers.
The Oncology Board, which met with the participation of the trainers of oncology, pathology, radiology and radiation oncology, made a decision on the method of treatment for this patient.
“An otolaryngologist should be consulted in the case of non-healing wounds in the mouth” We would like to mention that; In non-healing wounds in the mouth, an otolaryngologist should be consulted and a biopsy should be taken if necessary. If caught at an early stage, disease-free survival is up to 80% when appropriate treatments are performed in these cancers. What we want to say about this patient is: “The surgical treatment has been completed in the most appropriate manner. The patient is interviewed in detail for the next treatment steps. The rest of the treatment will continue. With high morale and motivation.”
Mahmoud Burhan, who reached the exit stage and regained his health, said, “I didn’t care much before, but after the wound reached my lips, my weight began to seriously decrease, especially after May. I would like to thank all the staff who have taken care of me since today. in which I applied to Al-Farabi Hospital I would also like to thank the doctors, Dr.Bengu Chupan, who took part in the operation with Ms. Jiren and showed a close interest in my treatment process at the service. I am fine now and fortunately I am starting to eat too”

A young man from Kyrgyzstan who contracted a disease that occurs in 3 out of 10 million people found healing in Farabi.

The 16-year-old patient, who was having a hard time due to hyperosinophilia syndrome, seen in 3 out of 10 million people in Kyrgyzstan, regained his health after successfully completing treatment at KTU Farabi Hospital.

Arlene Abdulmalkov, who lives with his family in Kyrgyzstan, began to suffer from various diseases, especially rashes, itching and diarrhea, due to allergies, about 4 years ago.

Abdulmalikov’s disease, which was transferred to health institutions in his country for treatment, could not be diagnosed. On the recommendation of a doctor in Kyrgyzstan, Abdul Malikov applied to KTU Farabi Hospital. Head of Hematology Department A. Dr. Doctor. In tests and controls conducted under the direction of Mehmet Sunmez, it was determined that Abdulmalikoff suffers from hyperosinophilia syndrome, which appears in 3 out of 10 million people in hematology.

Abdul Malikov, who was immediately treated and disposed of the diseases he suffered, was discharged from the hospital after regaining his health.

“There has been no diagnosis in 3-4 years here it was completed in one week”

Sonmez told Anadolu Agency that the diagnosis of the disease cannot be made because health facilities in Kyrgyzstan are not as sophisticated as in Turkey, and said: “He came here, we conducted the diagnostic evaluation, and started his treatment immediately. “Right now the patient is fine and has no complaints,” he said. The next treatment is in his country and we will continue.”

Explaining that hyperosinophilia syndrome causes some allergic reactions and that the biggest complaint of the patient is rashes, diarrhea and various allergic reactions, Sunmez said all these diseases have been resolved.

Noting that the disease is very rare, Sonmez continued:

“The infection rate is 0.003 per 1,000, about 3 per 10 million. These results are very difficult to come by because the facilities here are not like those in Kyrgyzstan. There was no diagnosis in 3-4 years, resulting in one week here. It’s not genetic, it’s late, the reason is unknown. It’s sick We don’t give chemotherapy, we planned the operation with some practical and harmless treatments, and it was very successful because she was young. We will do the next treatment with the hematology friends we trained there. We told them, “Do it that way.” We will say and follow up with them but he will come here to the main controls.”

Sunmez stressed that Trabzon is one of the important cities in terms of health tourism and that opportunities in health institutions are not available in many countries, noting its readiness to provide services to all people in need of health.

“The professors there recommended it, so we came here”

Arlene Abdulmelikov also stated that he was very happy with his recovery, adding: “My illness was very severe. Sometimes I couldn’t breathe I’m so happy to come here I thank everyone The professors there recommended it, so we came here. This place is better It’s not the doctors’ fault there. “They can’t do it on time and right because they don’t have enough resources. They are better in Turkey,” he said.

On the other hand, Father Armand Abdulmalikov stated that Turkey is in a very good position in the field of health and that they are very grateful for

Arrived from Neighboring Country on Suspicion of Cancer, Patient Recovered and Left

Nugzar Tsilosani, 50 years old, living in Georgia, went to a health center in his country after coughing up blood from his mouth. In the computerized tomography taken here, it was said that the lower part of the left lung did not swell and showed signs of destruction and it could be Lung Cancer. The patient came to Turkey for treatment and applied to Farabi Hospital of our University. In the examinations performed by Prof. Dr.  Celal TEKİNBAŞ and his team at Farabi Hospital. It was observed that the lower part of the left lung did not ventilate. Also an infection fluid empyema formed in the space between the ribs and the lung, and the meat structure, which we call parenchyma, was severely deteriorated. It was explained to the patient that this image could be seen not only in cancer but also in many other lung-related diseases, and the decision to operate was taken.

After the classical left posterolateral thoracotomy open surgery, the blood flow from the patient’s mouth stopped with coughing and the shortness of breath improved. In the biopsy examination of the piece taken, it was understood that the patient did not have cancer, but that the structure of the lung trachea, called bronchiectasis, was severely deteriorated, and that it was a disease caused by the decay of the meat part of the lung where gas exchange takes place.

The patient, who was discharged, returned to his country with the happiness of both regaining his health and learning that he did not have cancer.