How many years has the Ozaki procedure been performed in the world and in Turkey?
The Ozaki procedure was developed by Japanese cardiac surgeon Professor Shigeyuki Ozaki. Ozaki performed this procedure for the first time in 2007. Unlike traditional surgical techniques used in the treatment of aortic valve diseases, this method is based on the use of the patient’s own tissue. Through Professor Ozaki’s work and its application, the Ozaki procedure has become an increasingly recognized and used method of cardiac surgery worldwide.
Worldwide, the Ozaki procedure has become widespread in many countries since 2007. There are reports of its use in many cardiac surgery centers, especially in Europe and the United States. However, since the Ozaki procedure is still an emerging surgical technique, its worldwide application and prevalence have not been fully determined.
The Beginning of Ozaki Procedure in Turkey
Ozaki procedure was first performed by cardiac surgeons in Turkey in 2018.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yavuz Balcı performed it for the first time in 2018. However, in Turkey and around the world, the Ozaki procedure was performed by cutting the sternum. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yavuz Balcı performed Ozaki surgery for the first time in 2020 under the armpit without cutting the rib cage. Thus, this method went down in medical history as a method performed for the first time in the world.
Developments and innovations in the field of cardiac surgery in Turkey have made the Ozaki procedure an increasingly preferred treatment option in the country. The Ozaki procedure is frequently preferred by cardiac surgeons and patients in Turkey, especially due to patient compliance, the absence of valve-related complications, and the fact that it does not require the use of blood thinners.
However, the application and prevalence of the Ozaki procedure in Turkey is still less known compared to other countries. The reasons for this may include the fact that the procedure is still a new and developing technique, the variable level of training and experience of the surgical teams, and the higher cost of the procedure compared to other treatment options.
Health authorities and cardiac surgeons in Turkey are making efforts to increase the use of the Ozaki procedure in the country and provide access to a wider patient population. In this context, training and information activities are organized to disseminate the method and increase the competency level of surgical teams.
Ozaki procedure procedures in Turkey are performed in accordance with international standards. This is extremely important to ensure the safety of patients and the quality of treatment outcomes. Cardiac surgery centers in Turkey have the necessary technical infrastructure and equipment to ensure the effective and reliable implementation of this procedure.
As a result, the Ozaki procedure has become an increasingly recognized and used method of cardiac surgery worldwide and in Turkey. Professor Ozaki’s work and the application of this procedure have opened up more options in the treatment of aortic valve diseases.
