Prof. Dr. Yavuz Beşoğul runs a cardiovascular surgery clinic in Istanbul's Pendik district. Founded in 1997, the practice focuses on heart and vascular surgery. Dr. Beşoğul specializes in minimally invasive techniques that speed up recovery while maintaining surgical safety.
Surgical Statistics and Expertise
Dr. Beşoğul has over 35 years of experience in cardiovascular surgery. The clinic's surgical volume includes:
- 5,000+ open-heart surgeries
- 1,000+ minimally invasive heart surgeries
- 2,000+ vascular surgeries
Dr. Beşoğul was an early adopter of minimally invasive heart surgery in Turkey. Since 1999, he has published research on subaxillary (armpit) surgical access in national and international journals. He belongs to the Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery and the National Vascular Surgery Society.
Heart Surgery and Valve Procedures
The clinic treats cardiac conditions using both conventional and small-incision methods. For heart valve diseases, Dr. Beşoğul performs repair or replacement of the mitral and aortic valves. When clinically possible, mitral valve repair preserves the patient's own tissue.
Surgical methods include:
- Minimally invasive bypass surgery – small incisions instead of cutting the breastbone
- Off-pump coronary artery bypass – performed on a beating heart without a heart-lung machine
- Subaxillary heart valve surgery – reached through the armpit to avoid large chest scars
- Conventional open-heart surgery for complex cases
- TAVI – heart valve replacement through a catheter
A multidisciplinary "Heart Team" decides between surgical and catheter-based options. This team includes specialists in cardiology, anesthesiology, and intensive care.
Vascular Surgery and Diagnostics
Vascular care covers arterial and venous conditions. Dr. Beşoğul performs carotid endarterectomy to clear neck artery blockages and prevent strokes. The practice also treats Buerger's disease, Raynaud's disease, and varicose veins.
Diagnostic imaging tools include:
- Doppler sonography and duplex angioscanning
- Echocardiography for detailed heart imaging
- Coronary angiography to map arterial blockages
- CT scans of the chest and whole body
- Holter monitoring and exercise stress tests
These tools help assess valve structure and disease severity before surgery.
Technology and Surgical Equipment
The clinic uses specialized instruments for closed-heart operations. Surgeons work with endoscopic camera systems offering 3D and 4K image quality. These high-resolution systems allow precise valve repair and vessel reconstruction through small incisions.
International Patient Services and Recovery
The clinic provides medical information in English for international patients. Staff assist with coordination in several languages:
- English
- Russian
- Arabic
- German
- Turkish
Post-operative care includes guidance on breastbone healing. Full bone fusion takes about three months, so the clinic sets strict rules for the first 6–8 weeks. During this phase, patients must avoid driving, lifting over 5 kilos, and lying on their side.