Patient, 22, recovers from congenital heart defect after double switch operation in Turkey

By Yesim Sert Karaaslan

ANKARA (AA) - A young patient suffering from a congenital heart defect, regained his health after a double switch operation performed by Turkish physicians.

Ahmet Azad Agac, 22, a student at the Faculty of Dentistry, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and a heart valve problem. The conditions can lead to heart and liver transplants if they are not addressed.

"We determined that there is a significant hole in his heart between the atria and the valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle is not in place. The valve was at a very low level, and it could not function," said cardiologist Ali Oto.

Oto said Agac recovered after undergoing a successful operation.

Cardiovascular surgery specialist Serkan Durdu emphasized that if the operation cannot be performed, the life of the patient is at risk.

Agac almost had end-stage heart failure, a serious condition in which the heart does not pump blood as efficiently as it should, said Durdu.

The different anatomical locations and the presence of a defect in the valve made the treatment process difficult. Worldwide, the rate of resolution of this problem with the operation is 20% - 30%, he said.

"We performed both a complex surgery and a closed (endoscopic) surgery and repaired the valve with the closed method. The first patient in the world to be treated in this way," he said.

As in general surgery, the heart valve was treated with the closed method without opening the thorax and a large hole in the heart was closed, he said.

Although it is a difficult surgery for the physician, it provides important advantages to the patient, he said, adding that since the thorax is not opened, the length of stay in the hospital is reduced and a patient can soon return to his social life and is protected from all the complications that open surgery may cause.

The "dear doctors diagnosed my sickness. They have monitored my sickness for three years and they said I need to have surgery this year. I trusted my doctors very much. I went into surgery with peace of mind. Thankfully, it is gone now and I am very comfortable now," said Agac.

He added his birthdate is Nov. 15, 2000 but after his operation, July 23 is now his second birthday.