One of the most sought-after kidney transplant specialists in Turkey - urologist Prof. Dr. Burak Koçak will visit us in Sofia on 17 and 18 February 2020 for free consultations. This time he is coming with his colleague, the nephrologist - Prof. Dr. Aidan Türkmen. Both specialists will be visiting Bulgaria at the invitation of the manager of ZIC Medical Karaj - Zvezdelina Lutfi. Their visit will take place within the framework of our initiative to provide Bulgarian patients with access to the most modern methods and technologies in medicine. It is on this occasion that the specialists will hold two-day, completely free consultations for Bulgarian patients who need a consultation, second opinion or treatment abroad.
Who is Prof. Dr. Burak Koçak?
Prof. Burak Koçak is the Director of the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program at Koç University Hospital in Turkey. He completed his medical education in 1996 at the Faculty of Medicine of Hacettepe University and honed his skills in transplant surgery at Northwestern University - USA from 2002-2004. Subsequently, he led kidney transplant teams in some of the most reputable medical institutions in our southern neighbor. Prof. Dr. Burak Koçak has successfully built a significant professional experience in kidney transplantation, including in children and infants weighing less than 10 kg.
Prof. Dr. Burak Koçak has partnered with Medical Karadži for many years and has transplanted many Bulgarian patients. So far, the professor has not had a single failed transplant of patients referred by ZIC Medical Karadži.
Who is Prof. Dr. Aidan Turkmen?
Prof. Dr. Aidan Türkmen graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine in 1987. He completed his specialization in Nephrology at the same university, Department of Internal Medicine in 1992. He received the rank of associate professor in 1997 and professor in 2003. In 1996, he participated in clinical nephrology, hemodialysis and transplantation studies at Methodist Hospital in Houston in the Department of Nephrology. Since July 2018, he has been working at Koch University Hospital, Organ Transplant Center.
Prof. Dr. Aidan Turkmen is a member of:
- Turkish Society of Nephrology
- Turkish Society of Internal Medicine
- European Dialysis and Transplant Association
- Turkish Association for Transplantation Centres Coordination
- International Society of Nephrology
Organ Transplantation Centre at the University Hospital KOC
Everyone hopes that their loved ones will live a healthy and happy life, free of serious medical problems. However, every year a significant number of people need specialized medical care, especially for organ failure treatment. This fact is even more detrimental in children. Unfortunately, a significant number of children are diagnosed with chronic organ failure every year.
The KOCH University Hospital offers high quality and international standard facilities for the care of both adult and paediatric organ transplant patients. The Organ Transplant Centre is a centre of attraction for a large number of patients seeking treatment for kidney, pancreas and liver failure in the first year of their disease discovery.
Choosing the right transplant centre is very important. Organ transplantation is not just about the actual surgery. It also includes pre- and post-transplant processes. It requires multidisciplinary care, which is why high-tech laboratories, operating theatres, a pre- and post-operative care and intensive care unit, and an imaging department are needed during the transplant process. KOCH University Hospital is fully equipped with the latest technology and offers advanced surgical applications. Organ transplant surgeries at KOCH University Hospital, performed by the experienced organ transplant team at the fully equipped hospital based on cutting-edge technology, result in a high success rate. The Organ Transplant Centre applies innovative techniques to shorten the recovery time for both the recipients of transplanted organs and living donors.
Organ transplantation is one of the most complex operations in medical practice, and when the organ is taken from a living donor, the responsibility is twofold - not one, but two human lives depend on correct and timely medical actions. Moreover, the success of the transplant depends not only on the operation itself.
No less important are the stages before and after surgical intervention. For this purpose it is necessary:
- experienced multidisciplinary team
- well-equipped operating rooms
- reliable laboratory
- intensive care
- and imaging studies
Koç University Hospital has state-of-the-art technological equipment and an expert team of specialists in surgery, pediatric surgery, urology, nephrology, anesthesiology and intensive care. The center operates the first immunology laboratory in Turkey accredited by EFI (European Federation for Immunogenetics).
The Organ Transplant Centre at the University Hospital KOC offers the following procedures:
- Kidney, liver and pancreas transplantation
- Donor kidney removal using laparoscopic or robot-assisted techniques
- Donor liver removal by laparoscopic technique
- Paediatric kidney and liver transplantation (simultaneously or separately)
- Paired exchange kidney transplants
- Paired exchange liver transplants
- Dominant liver transplants
Kidney transplant surgeons at Koch University Hospital perform a robotic kidney transplant procedure that is rarely performed around the world. The donor kidney is inserted into the patient's body through a small 5-centimeter incision in the abdomen, and surgeons perform the entire procedure with the da Vinci Xi robotic system. In robotic surgery, surgeons use a computer-controlled robotic arm to perform the transplant. Surgeons direct the arm's movements and use small instruments through tiny incisions to transplant the donor's kidney. The hospital's team combined its collective expertise in laparoscopic, robotic and kidney transplantation to successfully complete the surgeries.
In addition to being cosmetically superior to the open surgical technique, robotic kidney transplantation provides less pain after surgery and allows patients to regain their quality of life more quickly.
Those wishing to take advantage of the opportunity for a free consultation with Prof. Dr. Burak Koçak and Prof. Dr. Ayden Türkmen in Sofia on 17 and 18 February 2020 should make an appointment in advance by calling Medical Karadzhi on 0878 500 940 or 0879 977 402 or requesting their desired appointment online at www.medikara.bg.
Please note that no examinations will be carried out during consultations with specialists. Free consultations are based on the medical records currently available to the patient.
