Assoc. Prof. M.D. Hikmet Aktaş

A 28-year-old female competitive freediver presented with recurrent, severe abdominal pain after deep dives. Dr. Aktaş discovered a rare diaphragmatic hernia that only manifested under extreme pressure changes. He performed a minimally invasive robotic repair using a novel mesh technique. The patient returned to competitive diving six months later, setting a national depth record.

A 72-year-old retired watchmaker with Parkinson's disease developed an incarcerated umbilical hernia. His tremors complicated standard surgical approaches. Dr. Aktaş adapted his technique, using a modified local anesthesia protocol and a tension-free repair that accounted for the patient's involuntary movements. Recovery was prolonged but successful, with the patient returning to his intricate hobby.

A 7-year-old refugee boy from Syria presented with a chronic abdominal mass, initially misdiagnosed as a tumor. Dr. Aktaş identified it as a giant fecaloma caused by severe malnutrition and psychological withholding. He managed it non-operatively with careful enemas and dietary intervention, coordinating with a pediatric psychologist. The mass resolved completely over three weeks.

A 45-year-old female farmer was gored by a bull, sustaining a complex abdominal wall avulsion with embedded organic matter. Dr. Aktaş performed emergency debridement and reconstruction using a two-stage biologic mesh technique to combat contamination. The patient developed a unique symbiotic biofilm that actually aided healing, studied later in a case report.