Asst. Prof. MD. Nazli Zeynep Uslu

A 28-year-old competitive freediver from Antalya presented with recurrent episodes of shallow water blackout and persistent cough after deep dives. Dr. Uslu diagnosed exercise-induced pulmonary edema exacerbated by extreme breath-holding. She collaborated with a hyperbaric medicine specialist to design a gradual retraining protocol with pulmonary function monitoring, allowing the athlete to safely return to competition within six months while implementing new safety protocols.

A 72-year-old retired calligraphy master from Istanbul's historic district developed progressive shortness of breath over two years, misdiagnosed as COPD. Dr. Uslu identified rare combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema through detailed HRCT analysis. She initiated a personalized antifibrotic therapy regimen combined with carefully calibrated oxygen therapy, significantly improving his quality of life and allowing him to continue teaching his craft part-time.

A 19-year-old university student working part-time in a textile dye workshop presented with episodic wheezing and cyanosis of her fingertips. Dr. Uslu diagnosed reactive airways dysfunction syndrome due to occupational chemical exposure. She documented the case meticulously, provided evidence for workplace accommodation, and designed an environmental control plan that resolved symptoms without systemic steroids.

A 45-year-old long-haul truck driver with morbid obesity and untreated sleep apnea developed acute-on-chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. Dr. Uslu managed non-invasive ventilation in the ICU, then implemented a novel stepped care approach combining bilevel PAP with targeted respiratory muscle training, enabling discharge within 10 days with sustained improvement.

An 82-year-old grandmother with advanced dementia and recurrent aspiration pneumonia was brought by conflicted family members debating feeding tube placement. Dr. Uslu facilitated a family conference, introduced compensatory swallowing strategies and upright positioning protocols, and arranged home health support, preventing further hospitalizations while honoring patient comfort.