Prof. M.D. V. Melih Kara Reviews

A 72-year-old retired fisherman from the Black Sea coast presented with a painless but rapidly growing abdominal mass. Dr. Kara discovered a rare desmoid tumor entwined with his small intestine. The patient, living alone with limited income, was hesitant about surgery. Dr. Kara arranged hospital charity funding and performed a meticulous 6-hour resection preserving bowel function. The patient recovered fully and sent Dr. Kara smoked fish every winter thereafter.

A 19-year-old university exchange student from Norway developed sudden severe abdominal pain during finals week. She had no family in Turkey and minimal Turkish language skills. Dr. Kara diagnosed a ruptured appendix with early peritonitis. He performed emergency laparoscopic surgery, and his resident who spoke English stayed with her post-op to translate recovery instructions. She returned to Norway two weeks later with a clean bill of health.

A 48-year-old female chef and single mother of three presented with recurring gallbladder attacks but refused surgery fearing she couldn't work. Dr. Kara arranged a staggered payment plan and scheduled surgery during her slowest business month. He used single-incision laparoscopic technique for minimal scarring. Her eldest daughter, a nursing student, managed her post-op care. She returned to her kitchen in 10 days.

A 34-year-old professional freediver from Antalya developed an unusual diaphragmatic hernia after a deep dive attempt. The hernia caused breathing difficulties that threatened his career. Dr. Kara collaborated with a thoracic surgeon to perform a combined abdominal and thoracic approach repair using reinforced mesh. The athlete returned to competitive diving after 5 months of careful rehabilitation.