Minimally invasive thoracic surgery is offered by Prof. Dr. Erkan Yıldırım’s practice in Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey. Uniportal VATS uses one small incision and can involve no ICU stay. Prof. Dr. Yıldırım is European-board-certified and completed lung transplant training at the University of Toronto.
For suitable operations, the team may use uniportal VATS, or single-incision video-assisted chest surgery. The incision is 4–5 cm between the ribs, without spreading them. Robotic-assisted surgery or open surgery may be used when needed.
Prof. Dr. Erkan Yıldırım specializes in thoracic surgery, lung transplantation, thoracic oncology, and chest wall surgery. He trained in live-donor lung transplantation at Kyoto University and took part in 75+ lung transplant recipient procedures, including 40+ as first surgeon.
The practice holds an International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate from the Turkish Ministry of Health. Its treatment pathways operate at Hisar Intercontinental Hospital.
Thoracic operations may treat lung or esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors, chest wall conditions, tracheal narrowing, and pneumothorax. Lung cancer procedures can include lobectomy, segmentectomy, or wedge resection.
Before surgery, patients have anesthesia and chest disease consultations, blood tests, and a chest X-ray. Depending on the case, checks may also include lung function testing, CT, PET-CT, or MRI.
Uniportal VATS usually involves one hospital day, and rarely two. The stay in Turkey is listed as two days for this approach. More complex resections may require one day in intensive care; uniportal VATS does not.
Patients receive general anesthesia and usually start walking on the day of surgery or the next day. After discharge, the plan includes a one-week hotel stay with daily wound dressing. The first check is on day two, followed by medical and radiation oncology follow-up at week two. Return to normal activities is estimated at about two weeks.
To explore whether this surgical approach may fit a specific diagnosis, patients can request a consultation through Bookimed.
The clinic is not accepting new requests
Average answering time – 5 minutes
| treatment | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Surgery | $11790 - $37725 | |
| Lung cancer surgery | Price on request | |
| Pneumonectomy | Price on request | |
| General anesthesia | Price on request | |
| Resection of the esophagus | Price on request | |
| Wedge Resection | Price on request |
Prof. Dr. Erkan Yıldırım Muayenehanesi is a private thoracic and lung surgery practice in Istanbul's Şişli district. The clinic focuses on complex chest conditions and functional chest wall disorders. It operates as a specialized office providing treatment pathways at Hisar Intercontinental Hospital.
The clinic holds the International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate from the Turkish Ministry of Health. Dr. Erkan Yıldırım leads the medical team as a European-board-certified thoracic surgeon. He is a fellow of the European Board of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (EBTCS) and a member of the European Society for Thoracic Surgery (ESTS).
Dr. Yıldırım completed international training in advanced transplant techniques:
The practice includes four doctors. Some specialists have over 25 years of experience.
The clinic treats several types of chest cancers. Surgeons use Uniportal VATS – a single small incision for major lung operations. This approach typically avoids ICU stays and limits hospitalization to 1–2 days.
The oncology department manages various conditions:
For early esophageal or gastric cancers, the clinic offers endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). This technique may reduce the need for major surgery. Patients undergoing esophagectomy typically stay in Turkey for 16–20 days for monitoring.
A core specialty is treating primary hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and facial blushing. The clinic performs ETS-Ramisectomy using a closed clipping procedure. Success rates reach 95%–98% with low risk of compensatory sweating.
For chest wall deformities, both surgical and non-surgical options are available:
The practice also treats lung collapse (pneumothorax) and bullous lung disease. Surgeons use video-assisted bullectomy and pleurectomy to fix air leaks and prevent recurrence. For select COPD patients, endobronchial balloon treatment is available after evaluation.
The clinic uses detailed imaging and endoscopic tools to plan complex procedures. Diagnostic capabilities include:
These tools allow precise cancer staging and lung function assessment before surgery.
The clinic provides dedicated coordination for international patients with complex thoracic cases. Support is available in English, German, Russian, Arabic, and Turkish. Online consultations help patients plan travel and treatment before arriving in Istanbul.
The clinic is not accepting new requests
Average answering time – 5 minutes
