Nazan Kanal, MD

Nazan Kanal, MD is a cardiologist in the Cardiology Department at Acibadem Bakirkoy Hospital in İstanbul. Her practice covers the evaluation and management of a range of cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, heart valve disease, hypertension, hypotension, arrhythmias and atherosclerosis. Her work also includes diagnostic and interventional procedures such as angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.

Dr. Kanal studied medicine at İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine from 1988 to 1994 and completed her cardiology training at İstanbul University Cardiology Institute in 1999. Her professional experience includes positions at Florance Nightingale Hospital (1995–1996), İnternational Hospital / Coronary Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department (1997–2000), Esnaf Hastenesi (1999–2000), Doğan Hospital (2000), İstanbul Cardiology Hospital (2000–2001) and İstanbul Memorial Hospital (2001–2002). She has worked within Acıbadem Healthcare Services since 2002. She is a member of the Turkish Cardiology Association.

Clinical focus

A central part of Dr. Kanal’s work is the assessment and treatment of coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease, conditions in which narrowing of the coronary arteries, often related to atherosclerosis, limits blood flow to the heart muscle. Depending on the clinical picture, evaluation may include angiography to visualize the coronary arteries. Where appropriate, she performs percutaneous coronary intervention, a catheter-based procedure used to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. The choice between medical management and interventional treatment is made on an individual basis after reviewing the patient’s symptoms, test results and overall health.

Dr. Kanal also manages heart failure, in which the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, and heart valve disease, which involves valves that do not open or close properly. Her practice further includes the evaluation and treatment of hypertension and hypotension, as well as arrhythmias, which are disturbances of the heart’s rhythm. For each of these conditions, care generally involves establishing a diagnosis, identifying contributing factors and agreeing on a management plan that may combine medication, monitoring and follow-up.

How Dr. Kanal works with international patients

Dr. Kanal consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as echocardiography, CT, MRI or X-ray reports, laboratory results, previous angiography findings, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and 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 available options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their case before deciding whether to travel, or for follow-up after treatment.