Asst. Prof. MD. Cansu Altuntas

I brought my 8-year-old son, Emre, to Dr. Altuntas after months of unexplained abdominal pain that other doctors dismissed as 'growing pains.' From the moment we entered her office at Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir, she spoke directly to Emre at his level, using drawings to explain how the digestive system works. She suspected a rare congenital duplication cyst that wasn't showing on standard scans. Her team performed a specialized contrast ultrasound, confirming her suspicion. The laparoscopic surgery was scheduled within days. Dr. Altuntas visited us every morning before her rounds, always with a small toy or sticker for Emre. The surgery was flawless, minimal scarring, rapid recovery. What struck me most was her follow-up: she called personally two weeks post-op to ask about Emre's soccer practice. We've found not just a surgeon, but a guardian for our child's health.

As a 72-year-old with multiple comorbidities (diabetes, mild heart failure), I was terrified when diagnosed with a complex pancreatic pseudocyst following a severe bout of pancreatitis. Three surgeons had declined intervention, citing high risk. Dr. Cansu Altuntas reviewed my case and said, 'We can do this with careful planning.' She didn't just see a risky procedure; she saw me, Mehmet, a grandfather who wanted to garden again. Her multidisciplinary approach was remarkable, she coordinated with my cardiologist, endocrinologist, and an anesthesiologist specialized in geriatric care for two weeks pre-op. The endoscopic cystgastrostomy she performed was minimally invasive. During recovery, she adjusted my pain management personally when standard protocols didn't suit my metabolism. At my 3-month follow-up, she remembered my granddaughter's name and asked about my tomato plants. Her expertise is only matched by her profound humanity.

This wasn't a scheduled appointment, it was a midnight emergency. My wife developed sudden, excruciating abdominal pain with fever. The ER at Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir suspected perforated diverticulitis and called Dr. Altuntas, who arrived within 25 minutes despite the hour. She explained the urgent need for surgery with calm clarity, showing us the CT images on her tablet. What followed was masterful crisis management: she performed a laparoscopic Hartmann's procedure with such precision that reversal will be straightforward. But her care extended beyond the OR. At 3 AM, she found me in the waiting room with coffee, explaining exactly what she'd found and done. Post-operatively, when my wife developed an atypical reaction to antibiotics, Dr. Altuntas personally researched alternatives and sat with us for 45 minutes discussing options. In our darkest medical moment, she was both our skilled surgeon and our anchor.

My visit began as a routine follow-up for chronic GERD, but Dr. Altuntas detected subtle changes in my voice during conversation. She asked unexpected questions about occasional choking and weight fluctuations I'd attributed to stress. Suspecting more than reflux, she expedited a dynamic swallow study and esophageal manometry, revealing early-stage achalasia that had been missed for years. Her approach was collaborative: she presented three treatment options (from dilation to POEM surgery) with transparent pros/cons, creating a decision matrix with me. We opted for peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). The procedure itself felt like science fiction, no external incisions, done entirely through the mouth. She called my husband immediately after surgery, then visited me in recovery with photos showing the successful myotomy. Six months later, I'm symptom-free. Dr. Altuntas has this rare ability to find hidden patterns where others see routine cases.