A challenging heart surgery for a 33-year-old patient in Van

Successful Mitral Valve Replacement and Aortic Root Replacement surgeries were performed at the Heart Center within the Van Training and Research Hospital. Marfan syndrome patient named Şakir Serpil (33) from the district of Özalp in Van applied to the hospital a month ago due to a heart condition. Initially, the patient underwent a TEVAR procedure for aortic dissection, and later, decay in two heart valves was detected in follow-up examinations. Subsequently, Cardiovascular Surgeons Dr. Murat Sezgin and Dr. Hülüsi Helvacı successfully performed a mitral valve replacement and aortic root replacement surgery lasting about 4 hours.
“Not an operation performed in every center” Providing information about the successful operation, Cardiovascular Surgeon Dr. Murat Sezgin stated that the patient applied to the hospital a month ago due to type 3 dissection and underwent a TEVAR procedure. Dr. Sezgin expressed that in the follow-up examinations, they detected advanced decay in two heart valves of the patient. He mentioned, “There was severe dilatation in both the mitral valve, aortic valve, and aortic artery. After the necessary preparations, we immediately took the patient to surgery. We replaced two heart valves, the aortic artery, and the aortic root. This surgery, which we refer to as mitral valve replacement (MVR), is one of the most challenging surgeries we perform in medical faculties. We performed a Bentall procedure as we replaced the aortic valve and aortic root together. The Bentall procedure is actually performed in very large centers and is not an operation performed in every center. We change the aortic root, aortic valve, and the main arteries feeding the coronary aorta altogether. Plus, there was advanced decay insufficiency in the mitral valve as well. This time, we replaced the mitral valve. It was a surgery worthy of a complete heart transplant.”
“The operation went very successfully” Cardiovascular Surgeon Dr. Hülüsi Helvacı, reminding that the patient’s aortic artery was torn when they arrived, said, “Later, when different heart-related issues developed, we decided to perform the surgery. The operation we conducted went very successfully. There were no issues. The patient was disconnected from the machine quite early and did not experience any problems. There may be certain difficulties in the patient’s future life. Especially, certain issues in the abdominal arteries can be expected. We will closely monitor the patient.” Patient Şakir Serpil, who stated that he had a constant heart condition, mentioned that he underwent the surgery trusting the doctors and that the subsequent heart surgery was also very successful. Serpil thanked the doctors and the team who performed the surgery.