Prof. Sertaç İşlekel, MD

Prof. Sertaç İşlekel, MD is a neurosurgeon at Acibadem Kent Hospital (Izmir) in İzmir, Turkey, where he works in the Neurosurgery unit with a subspecialty in Pediatric Neurosurgery. His practice covers neurosurgical conditions in both adults and children, including brain tumors, epilepsy, cerebral aneurysms, brain hemorrhage, spasticity in children, and disorders of the spine.

Dr. İşlekel graduated from Ege University Faculty of Medicine in 1984 and completed his specialization at the Ege University Faculty of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery in 1992. With more than 42 years in medicine, he has been part of Acıbadem Healthcare Services since 2024. He sees international patients for adult and pediatric neurosurgical concerns and provides specialist assessment before any treatment is proposed.

Clinical focus

A substantial part of Dr. İşlekel’s work is in pediatric neurosurgery. He evaluates and treats children with pediatric brain tumors, pediatric epilepsy and pediatric spasticity. For selected children whose seizures do not respond adequately to medication, epilepsy surgery may be considered after a detailed pre-surgical assessment. For children with spasticity, the treatment options he offers include baclofen pump implantation. Arachnoid cysts are also among his clinical interests.

In adults, Dr. İşlekel treats brain tumors, cerebral aneurysms and brain hemorrhage, and he performs surgery for epilepsy and deep brain stimulation in appropriately selected patients. His spinal practice includes back, neck and spinal pain, disc herniation and spinal hypolordosis. Whether surgery is appropriate, and which technique is most suitable, depends on the individual diagnosis, the imaging findings and the patient’s overall condition. These points are discussed with the patient and, where relevant, with the family before any decision is made, and non-surgical options are considered where they exist.

How Dr. İşlekel works with international patients

Dr. İşlekel 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, for example MRI or CT reports, laboratory and pathology results, 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 options. Having existing reports available allows this discussion to be based on complete information. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their case with Dr. İşlekel before deciding whether to travel.