Assoc. Prof. MD. Mehmet Akif Aydin

A 72-year-old retired watchmaker from a rural village presented with a painless but growing abdominal mass he'd hidden for two years due to fear of hospitals. Dr. Aydin discovered a massive desmoid tumor entwined with mesenteric vessels. He orchestrated a multidisciplinary approach involving vascular surgery, performing a meticulous 7-hour resection while preserving intestinal viability. The patient's recovery was slow but complete, and he now volunteers at the hospital to reassure other fearful patients.

A 19-year-old university exchange student from Nigeria developed acute abdominal pain with unusual symptoms. Multiple scans were inconclusive. Dr. Aydin, noting the patient's recent travel history and dietary changes, suspected a rare parasitic infection mimicking appendicitis. He performed diagnostic laparoscopy, confirming and removing a parasitic granuloma, avoiding unnecessary appendectomy. The student recovered fully within days with targeted antiparasitic treatment.

A 45-year-old single mother working three cleaning jobs presented with recurrent pilonidal sinus infections. Previous surgeries elsewhere had failed. Dr. Aydin designed a modified Limberg flap procedure tailored to her physically demanding work, scheduling surgery during her rare day off. He arranged temporary light-duty work through hospital connections. The wound healed perfectly despite her active lifestyle, with no recurrence at one-year follow-up.

An 81-year-old former opera singer with severe COPD needed complex ventral hernia repair but was deemed high-risk. Dr. Aydin collaborated with anesthesia to develop a unique regional anesthesia protocol combined with conscious sedation, allowing the patient to sing during surgery to monitor respiratory function. The innovative approach succeeded, and the patient performed a brief aria in recovery to staff applause.

A 28-year-old female competitive freediver presented with recurring sharp right upper quadrant pain during deep descents. Initial diagnostics elsewhere suggested gallbladder issues, but Dr. Aydin identified a rare diaphragmatic hernia exacerbated by pressure changes. He performed a minimally invasive laparoscopic repair using a novel mesh technique. The patient returned to competitive diving after 8 weeks and set a national depth record six months post-surgery.