8 Best Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) Doctors in Istanbul

Professor Öztekin Oto is a pioneer in cardiac surgery who performed Turkey's first heart-lung transplant and leads advanced surgical interventions for chronic heart failure.

• Specialises in ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation to support failing heart function
• Performs minimally invasive heart valve and bypass surgeries for faster patient recovery
• Former President of the European Society of Cardiovascular Surgery
• Fellow of both the American College of Cardiology and European Society of Cardiology
• Published 100+ international papers on thoracic and cardiovascular surgical outcomes

Professor Gulden Kafali leads the paediatric cardiology department at Hisar Hospital Intercontinental, focusing on complex heart conditions in children.

• Specialises in cardiomyopathies – heart muscle diseases that often lead to chronic heart failure
• Performs fetal echocardiography to detect heart defects before birth for early intervention
• Manages congenital heart diseases at leading Turkish academic and research hospitals
• Treats myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that can weaken cardiac function
• Conducts cardiovascular assessments for young athletes to monitor heart health

Dr. Nermina Alagic is an attending cardiologist at Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul. She specializes in cardiac imaging at this Johns Hopkins Medicine affiliate. Dr. Alagic has extensive training in 2D and 3D transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. She completed clinical research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Echo Lab.

• Full member of the European Society of Cardiology.
• Completed an interventional cardiology observership at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney.
• Published research in the Journal of Biomedical Optics and PNAS.
• Silver member of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging.

Dr. Cenk Indelen is a cardiovascular surgeon at Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital. He specializes in patient blood management and cardiothoracic optimization for heart surgery. He holds an associate professorship and is certified in robotic console surgery from Belgium.

• Member of the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery.
• Treats complex conditions like aortic valve insufficiency and coronary artery disease.
• Performs robotic surgery, bypass grafting, and TAVI heart valve replacement.
• Published over 25 studies in journals like JAMA and Cardiovascular Journal of Africa.

Dr. Hakan Ucar is an interventional cardiologist at VM Medical Park Florya Hospital. He is board-certified by the European Society of Cardiology. Dr. Ucar specializes in complex coronary and peripheral interventions. He has published over 30 articles in international peer-reviewed journals. His research focuses on oxidative stress and coronary artery disease complexity.

• Performs heart valve interventions including TAVI, Mitraclip, and mitral balloon procedures.
• Provides electrophysiological studies, ablation, and pacemaker placements.
• Served as the former Head of the Cardiology Department at Biruni University.
• Treats patients at a JCI-accredited facility with robotic surgery excellence designations.

Dr Gokhan Bektasoglu is a specialist interventional cardiologist at Atlas University Hospital, focused on cardiac device implantation and complex heart failure management.

• Specialises in Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) – a specialised pacemaker that helps both sides of the heart beat in sync to improve blood flow
• Performs minimally invasive Mitra-Clip procedures to repair leaky heart valves without requiring open-heart surgery
• Uses transesophageal echocardiography for highly detailed heart imaging to guide precise treatment planning
• Published extensive research on predicting mortality and complications in systolic heart failure patients

Dr. Murat Sunbul is a Professor of Cardiology at Istinye University, Topkapi Liv Hospital. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers in respected international medical journals. Dr. Sunbul specializes in complex coronary interventions and advanced cardiac imaging. He is an expert in structural heart disease treatments like TAVI and PFO closure.

• Performs carotid, peripheral, and renal artery interventions.
• Expert in coronary imaging using FFR, OCT, and IVUS techniques.
• Provides device therapies including LBB pacing, ICD, and CRT implantation.
• Treats complex conditions like pulmonary hypertension and chronic heart failure.

Dr. Cengiz Koksal is a cardiovascular surgeon at Medipol Acibadem District Hospital in Istanbul. He is the only physician in Turkey authorized to train others in off-pump mitral valve repair. Dr. Koksal specializes in minimally invasive heart surgery and beating-heart techniques. He has performed over 2,000 open-heart and vascular procedures.

• Winner of the Physician of the Year award at the Ibn Sina Medical Awards.
• Former President of the National Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Association.
• Provides expert treatment for complex mitral valve repair and carotid artery surgery.
• Authored over 150 scientific publications and edited a major vascular surgery textbook.