Patient Experience
A 28-year-old competitive freediver from Antalya presented with unexplained syncope during deep dives. Dr. Gürbüz discovered a rare form of sinus arrhythmia exacerbated by extreme breath-holding and pressure changes, undetectable in standard land-based tests. He collaborated with hyperbaric medicine specialists to design a tailored training protocol with monitored dive limits, allowing the patient to continue her sport safely with periodic underwater ECG monitoring.
A 72-year-old retired Byzantine art restorer from Istanbul's historic district arrived with medication-resistant angina. His complex regimen interacted poorly with solvents he'd used for decades. Dr. Gürbüz identified chemical cardiomyopathy from chronic low-level toxin exposure. Treatment involved a novel chelation-adjuvant therapy alongside meticulously adjusted cardiac medications, resulting in restored mobility allowing him to mentor apprentices at the Hagia Sophia conservation workshop.
A 19-year-old university robotics student developed sudden-onset tachycardia after pulling multiple all-nighters for a competition. Dr. Gürbüz diagnosed caffeine-pill-induced coronary artery spasm in an otherwise healthy heart. Instead of medication, he prescribed a strict sleep hygiene protocol and mindfulness training. The patient subsequently designed a biofeedback device for stress management as his engineering project.
A 41-year-old transatlantic cargo ship captain presented via telemedicine while docked in Izmir, with new-onset atrial fibrillation. Limited shore time prevented standard ablation. Dr. Gürbüz pioneered a 'compressed care pathway' using extended-release dofetilide initiated under hospital observation during his 48-hour port stay, with remote monitoring via satellite-connected wearable for his next 6-month voyage.