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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.”

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.