Türkiye's largest city hospital provided hope for organ transplantation for 534 patients

A press conference was held at Bilkent City Hospital within the scope of 3-9 November Organ Donation Week to raise social awareness about organ donation and organ transplantation.

Bilkent City Hospital Coordinator Chief Physician Prof. attended the meeting. Dr. Levent Öztürk, physicians in charge of the transplant units, and patients who received organ transplants at the hospital and regained their health attended.

Prof. Dr. In his speech here, Öztürk stated that Bilkent City Hospital is the largest training and research hospital in Türkiye and Europe and stated that there are 4 thousand 50 beds and 125 operating rooms in the hospital.

Stating that 830 faculty members work in the hospital, Öztürk said, "We are a hospital that provides high-quality service in both quantity and quality. Of course, these features come to the fore in organ and tissue transplantation." he said.

Prof. Dr. Öztürk stated that the hospital has the opportunity to perform 4 solid organ transplants with both its academic and physical infrastructure and said, "We have the physical infrastructure to perform lung, heart, liver and kidney transplants at the same time, 365 days a year, if the organ is available. Cornea transplants are also performed in our hospital. This is a proud situation for us and Bilkent City Hospital." he said.

Öztürk also shared the following information about organ transplants performed in the hospital:

"Since it was opened, a total of 49 heart transplants, 53 lungs, 189 livers and 243 kidneys transplant surgeries have been performed in our hospital. Our patients have thus had the opportunity to live a healthier, higher quality life. The only speed limiting step for us is the lack of sufficient organs. In case of organ donation, our physical facilities and our professors have the opportunity to perform all kinds of transplants 24 hours a day and 365 days."

Pointing out the importance of organ donation, Öztürk said that patients have a healthier and more comfortable life after transplantation.

"We should view organ donation as a civic duty"

Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Organ Transplantation Manager Prof. Dr. Erdal Birol Bostancı explained that organ transplantation is done in two ways: from living organisms or from cadavers.

Stating that liver and kidney transplantation can be done from living individuals, Bostancı said that such a situation is not possible in heart and lung.

Pointing out that Türkiye ranks first in the world in live transplantation, Bostancı stated that Türkiye ranks 46th in cadaver transplantation.

Heart Transplant Responsible Prof. Dr. Ümit Kervan also emphasized that lung and heart transplants are very difficult transplants.

Reminding that Bilkent City Hospital High Specialization Cardiovascular Clinic is one of the first heart transplant centers in the world, Kervan said, "We have a completely separate clinic and team in heart and lung transplantation. We are also an international training center." he said.

Prof. Dr. Kervan pointed out that there are more than 1500 patients waiting on the heart transplant list and said, "Between 70-90 heart transplants are performed in Türkiye. This rate is much lower than expected. We should consider organ donation as a civic duty. The Ministry of Health is making all kinds of organizations on this issue. We have all the infrastructure here." he said.

At the meeting, organ transplant patients also talked about their experiences and called for organ donation.