Northern Cyprus Achieves a Medical Milestone with Groundbreaking Heart Surgery

Doctors at Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital have reached a significant milestone in cardiovascular medicine, successfully performing the first-ever Ozaki procedure in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This cutting-edge technique involves reconstructing a heart valve using the patient’s own tissue.

The innovative operation was carried out on a 69-year-old male patient and was deemed a resounding success.

The surgical team, led by Dr. Hasan Ceyda and Dr. Safa Özçelik from the cardiovascular surgery department, included clinic chief Dr. Ozan Emiroğlu, deputy chief physician Dr. Hasan Birtan, and doctors Mehmet Arıkbuka and Çağın Zaim.

"Last Friday, we performed the surgery on a patient suffering from severe aortic valve issues. Five days later, we’ve confirmed that the valve is functioning perfectly. The patient is on track to be discharged in just a few days," shared Dr. Hasan Ceyda.

Following the procedure, the Minister of Health, Hakan Dinçyürek, visited the patient to personally acknowledge the team’s remarkable achievement.

Minister Dinçyürek explained that the Ozaki procedure involves crafting a new aortic valve using tissues derived from the patient's own pericardium. He underscored the importance of this advanced surgical technique, emphasizing its rarity and complexity.

"Today, we witnessed an extraordinary success by our medical team, who performed this highly complex surgery for the first time on the island. This procedure is an advanced surgical method, conducted only in a select number of specialized centers worldwide, including Turkey. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the team and wish our patient a swift recovery," the minister stated.