Öztekin Oto

With a 10 cc artificial heart implanted for a pediatric patient and then a successful heart transplant performed by his team, Prof. Dr. Öztekin Oto’s work at the clinic is built around lifesaving transplant pathways. He is a specialist at the clinic with a focus on cardiac surgery, thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, congenital heart surgery, and vascular surgery. Among the milestones highlighted by the clinic are Turkey’s first heart-lung transplant, first pediatric heart transplant, and first video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, including “First VATS with PDA closure” and the “First Domino procedure.” At the clinic, the approach also extends to minimally invasive options for selected patients. In a first-in-Turkey three-hour operation, the procedure was completed with only a 5-centimetre incision, using “neck anaesthesia” instead of the “waist anaesthesia” method. For palpitations, the clinic describes surgical treatment through a small hole after ECG, echocardiography, and Holter ECG evaluation.

Education

• FESC, FACC are listed among his certifications.

Work experience

• Chief of Cardiac Surgery — Prof. Dr. Öztekin Oto (as stated on the clinic biography page).
• Faculty member, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery — Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine (described as “Öğretim Üyesi” on the clinic site).
• President, European Society of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery (ESCVS) — elected (as stated).
• President, Turkish Heart and Health Foundation — Prof. Dr. Öztekin Oto (as stated in multiple news posts).

Clinical focus and techniques

At the clinic, Prof. Dr. Öztekin Oto’s practice spans transplant surgery, congenital heart surgery, and minimally invasive cardiac procedures, with options tailored to the patient’s condition.

• Minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery.
• Minimally invasive heart valve surgeries, including minimally invasive mitral valve repair.
• Minimally invasive ASD closure.
• Heart transplantation, including pediatric cases.
• Congenital heart disease surgery.
• Artificial heart implantation using Turkey’s smallest artificial heart (10 cc) for a pediatric patient.
• Open heart surgery through a small hole using “neck anaesthesia” (as described in the clinic’s first-in-Turkey three-hour operation story).
• Surgical treatment for palpitations through three small openings without opening the chest (as described for a live surgical demonstration).
• Laser treatment for varicose veins.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — listed among his interests.
• EECP (Enhanced External Counterpulsation) — mentioned on the clinic site.

Professional societies and certifications

• European Society for Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery (ESCVS) — President.
• FESC — listed certification.
• FACC — listed certification.
• Turkish Heart and Health Foundation — President.
• Mediterranean Association of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery — Board member (1987).
• Turkish Cardiology Society — member (1987).
• European Association of Transplantation — member (1992).
• Society for Vascular Surgery — member (1992).
• European Society for Organ Transplantation — member (1995).
• National Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery — member (1993).
• National Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, İzmir — Founder and President (1995).
• National Society of Pediatric Cardiology — Board member (1996).
• Working Group of the European Society of Cardiology on Congenital Heart Defects — Vice-President (1998).

Academic output

The clinic biography states that he has published over 100 papers in international journals and presented over 2,000 lectures worldwide.

Courses and advanced training

• He is described as participating in a congress program that includes a live operating-room broadcast from a hospital in the Netherlands to the congress hall, focused on surgical treatment of heart rhythm disorders through three openings without opening the chest.

Awards and recognition

• President of the European Society of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery (ESCVS) — elected (as stated).
• President of the Turkish Heart and Health Foundation — as stated.

For international patients, the clinic highlights his scheduled presence in locations outside Turkey, including a visit to Tirana (17–18 April) at Seewell Clinic. He is based at Dokuz Eylül University Hospital and the DEU Faculty of Medicine, and his transplant and minimally invasive cardiac programs are designed for patients who want a coordinated surgical pathway. The clinic also emphasizes ongoing post-operation follow-up for transplant recipients, including the importance of living close enough to the transplant center for monitoring.