Prof. Cem Alhan, MD

Prof. Cem Alhan, MD is a cardiovascular surgeon who sees patients at Acibadem Maslak Hospital and Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul. His clinical work centers on vascular surgery, robotic surgery, aortic aneurysm, aortic valve stenosis, major vessel diseases, heart valve diseases, cardiomyopathies and robotic bypass surgery. He has more than 48 years in medicine.

Dr. Alhan studied at İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine from 1978 to 1984. He then trained at Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, where he worked as an Assistant Doctor from 1986 to 1991, completed his cardiovascular surgery training in 1991 and served as Chief Assistant from 1991 to 1997. He was appointed Associate Professor in 1997 and was Clinical Chief at the same hospital from 1998 to 1999. In 2010 he became Professor at Acıbadem University Faculty of Medicine. He is a member of the Turkish Cardiovascular Surgery Association (TKCD), the European Association for Cardiothoracic Suregry (EACTS), the European Society for Cardiovascular Surgery (ESCVS) and The Cardiothoracic Surgery Network (CTSNET).

Clinical focus

Dr. Alhan evaluates and treats patients with diseases of the heart and the major vessels. His areas of expertise include aortic aneurysm, aortic valve stenosis and other heart valve diseases, cardiomyopathies and major vessel diseases. Where clinically appropriate, he considers robotic surgical approaches, including robotic bypass surgery. The choice of approach depends on the individual patient’s anatomy, general condition and the findings from imaging and other tests, and is discussed with the patient after evaluation.

He has co-authored peer-reviewed publications in journals including Heart Surg Forum, Ann Thorac Surg, Heart Vessels, Perfusion and Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. Topics covered include the endovascular treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm and occlusive abdominal aortic thrombosis, the use of preoperative tranexamic acid in coronary bypass surgery, anemia and red cell transfusion in coronary surgery patients, the inflammatory response during cardiopulmonary bypass, cardiac output monitoring in cardiac surgery, and readmission to the intensive care unit after fast track cardiac surgery.

How Dr. Alhan works with international patients

Dr. Alhan speaks Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. The international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, arranges appointments and organizes the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the options. Video consultations are available for international patients and may be used for an initial review of records before a possible visit; any decision about surgery requires an in-person examination and up-to-date tests.