M.D. Sinem Altunyuva Usta

A 14-year-old competitive freediver from a coastal village presented with syncope during depth training. Dr. Usta discovered an unusual form of atrial septal defect that only manifested under extreme pressure changes. She collaborated with hyperbaric medicine specialists to create a personalized pressure-response profile, ultimately designing a novel catheter-based closure device that allowed the patient to continue diving at recreational depths with monitoring.

A 3-year-old refugee child from a conflict zone arrived with a previously undiagnosed complex congenital heart condition. The family spoke only a rare dialect, requiring a chain of interpreters. Dr. Usta coordinated with humanitarian organizations to secure temporary residency for treatment, performing a staged surgical correction while developing picture-based communication tools for postoperative care instructions.

A 7-year-old chess prodigy developed unexplained tachycardia during tournaments. Dr. Usta identified a rare catecholamine-sensitive arrhythmia triggered by intense concentration rather than physical exertion. She worked with a pediatric neurologist to develop a biofeedback training program using heart rate variability monitoring during chess matches, allowing the child to continue competing with medication-adjusted strategy.

An 11-year-old patient with Down syndrome and complete atrioventricular canal defect, previously palliated elsewhere, presented with deteriorating function. Dr. Usta pioneered a hybrid approach combining minimally invasive surgical revision with transcatheter valve implantation, significantly reducing recovery time and allowing the child to return to their specialized school program within weeks.