Assoc. Prof. Seçkin Satılmış, MD

Assoc. Prof. Seçkin Satılmış, MD is a cardiologist in the Cardiology Department of Acibadem Atakent Hospital in İstanbul. His clinical work centers on coronary artery disease and its interventional treatment, including coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention and the treatment of chronic total occlusion, as well as structural heart procedures such as TAVI and the management of mitral valve insufficiency, heart failure and cardiac ablation. He consults in Turkish and English.

Dr. Satılmış graduated from İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2003. He completed his specialty training in cardiology at Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic, Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital in 2009, having worked at that hospital from 2004. In 2013 he joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services. He is a member of the Turkish Medical Association. His published work as a co-author includes articles on clopidogrel resistance in patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction, on the management of drug-induced atrioventricular block, and on atrioventricular block in patients with thyroid dysfunction.

Clinical focus

A large part of Dr. Satılmış’s practice concerns coronary artery disease, including atherosclerosis, angina and heart attack. Assessment may involve coronary angiography to visualize the coronary arteries, and, where indicated, percutaneous coronary intervention to open narrowed or blocked vessels. He also treats chronic total occlusion, in which a coronary artery has been completely blocked for an extended period. Whether an interventional approach is suitable depends on the individual findings and is discussed with the patient after the diagnostic work-up.

In the field of structural heart disease, Dr. Satılmış performs TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) and manages patients with mitral valve insufficiency. He also follows patients with heart failure, adjusting treatment over time as symptoms and heart function change. For selected patients with heart rhythm disorders, cardiac ablation is among the procedures he offers. In each case, the choice between medical therapy, catheter-based treatment or referral for other options is made on the basis of the clinical picture and the available imaging.

How Dr. Satılmış works with international patients

Dr. Satılmış consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. The Acibadem 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 consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation with Dr. Satılmış before deciding whether to travel; the scope of such a consultation is limited by what can be reviewed remotely, and any treatment decision generally requires an in-person assessment.