Ozaki Method Revolutionizes Heart Surgery

Valve made from a person's own aorta instead of prosthetic valves has left its mark on the history of cardiac surgery. Prof. Dr. Shigeyuki Ozaki, who discovered this new method 12 years ago and gave it his own name, came to Turkey to award an instructor certificate to Prof. Dr. Cem Alhan, who travelled to Japan to learn and successfully apply this method. Prof. Dr. Ozaki answered his colleagues' questions during live surgery held at Acıbadem University Atakent Hospital. He met Turkish patients who had previously undergone surgery with the same method and recovered. Dr. Cumhur Alhan, a Turkish cardiac surgeon living in London who was operated on by his brother Prof. Dr. Cem Alhan due to a valve problem in his heart, delivered a thank-you speech to Japanese Doctor Ozaki, which led to emotional moments. A "cancer" diagnosis given to Turkish cardiac surgeon Doctor Cumhur Alhan, who lives in London, last year also opened a different chapter in his life. During medical examinations performed before starting cancer treatment, a problem was detected in his heart valve. This problem had to be corrected before proceeding with cancer treatment. For years, Dr. Cumhur Alhan had given life to other hearts, and now he would struggle for the treatment of his own heart. But without hesitation, he came to Turkey for treatment. For his brother was a cardiac surgeon and he was certain that during these difficult days his brother would do his best for him. Prof. Dr. Cem Alhan, Specialist in Cardiac and Vascular Surgery at Acıbadem Maslak Hospital, told his brother the method that would make his heart beat with health and joy of life as before: Ozaki…

More Than 2,500 Hearts Beating Thanks to the Ozaki Method

Our heart has 4 valves that open and close ceaselessly throughout the day. The aortic valve is one of these 4 valves in our heart. Without complaint, constantly opening and closing and allowing blood, or 'life' to be pumped throughout our entire body, problems can sometimes develop in these valves that show no signs for many years. Since these are mechanical problems, they can be solved not with medication but by repairing the valve or replacing it entirely. Japanese cardiac surgeon Dr. Shigeyuki Ozaki, who with his eponymous method developed has enabled more than 2,500 patients in Japan alone over the last 12 years to have a completely new aortic valve made from their own heart tissue, personally performed 1,200 of these surgeries. Dr. Ozaki came to Turkey to transfer his live surgical experience at Acıbadem University Atakent Hospital and answer his colleagues' questions. Another reason for his visit was to present an instructor certificate to Prof. Dr. Cem Alhan, Faculty Member of the Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery at Acıbadem University, designating him as the only instructor of the Ozaki method for adults in Europe. Thus Prof. Dr. Cem Alhan will train cardiac surgeons across Europe who wish to learn this method.