Acibadem Kartal Hospital Reviews

My 82-year-old father, a retired shipyard welder with 60 years of smoking history, was admitted to Acibadem Kartal with severe COPD exacerbation and suspected lung nodules. Dr. Yelda Başbuğ approached his case like a historical detective—she didn't just look at his CT scans; she asked about the types of metals he worked with, the ventilation in the old shipyards, even the brand of cigarettes he smoked in the 1960s. Her diagnosis was astonishingly precise: she identified rare occupational lung changes superimposed on his COPD and ruled out malignancy without invasive procedures. She created a personalized pulmonary rehab plan that considered his arthritic hands for inhaler use. Six months later, he's tending his tomato plants again. She treated the whole life, not just the lungs.

Our 7-year-old daughter developed a mysterious persistent cough after what seemed like a mild cold. Three pediatricians called it 'post-viral' and prescribed endless syrups. Dr. Başbuğ did something remarkable during the consultation at Acibadem Kartal—she got down on the floor with my daughter and her stuffed rabbit, listening to her lungs while they 'played doctor.' She noticed the cough only happened when my daughter spoke in long sentences. Through gentle questioning disguised as storytelling, she discovered our daughter had been secretly swallowing small toy parts months earlier. The subsequent bronchoscopy revealed and removed a tiny plastic bead lodged near a bronchus. Her approach was so child-centric it felt like magic. The cough vanished completely.

I arrived at the emergency department at 3 AM with sudden pleuritic chest pain and breathlessness—a previously healthy 38-year-old marathon runner. The junior doctors suspected pulmonary embolism, but Dr. Başbuğ, who was called in, observed something others missed: the precise timing of my pain with breathing cycles and a subtle sound during a specific exhalation maneuver. She hypothesized spontaneous pneumothorax but ordered a unique protocol: a dynamic ultrasound rather than immediate CT. She was right. Her minimally invasive needle aspiration procedure was done with such precision I was awake the entire time, watching the screen as my lung re-expanded. She explained every step using running analogies ('We're just letting some trapped air off the course'). Back to training in three weeks with monitoring strategies she designed for athletes.

As a 54-year-old with stable sarcoidosis for years, I came for a routine follow-up expecting the usual five-minute check. Dr. Başbuğ spent forty minutes reviewing not just my lungs but my life patterns. She noticed from my previous notes that my seasonal flare-ups coincided with Istanbul's specific humidity spikes, something no one had connected. She developed a personalized 'weather-aware' medication adjustment plan and taught me breathing techniques for high-humidity days. More remarkably, she identified early signs of pulmonary hypertension through subtle changes in my exercise tolerance that I'd attributed to aging. Her early intervention with targeted therapy has preserved my lung function. She doesn't just manage disease; she reads the unique language of each patient's body over time.

My 82-year-old father, Ahmet, was admitted to Acibadem Kartal with severe dehydration and confusion after a heatwave. Dr. Demirbaş didn't just treat the numbers on his chart—she sat with him, speaking slowly in Turkish, holding his hand when he was frightened. She noticed a slight tremor others had missed and ordered specific tests that revealed a thyroid issue complicating his recovery. Her coordination with the cardiology team was seamless. She visited him twice daily, even on Sunday, explaining each step to our family with hand-drawn diagrams. She restored not just his fluids, but his dignity. We call her 'meleğimiz'—our angel.

As a 30-year-old expat with unexplained chronic fatigue and joint pain, I'd seen five doctors across two countries. Dr. Demirbaş was my last resort. In her office, she conducted a 45-minute systemic review I'd never experienced, connecting dots between my childhood tonsillectomy, a recent camping trip, and a skin rash I'd dismissed. She ordered a very specific panel for autoimmune and tick-borne diseases, suspecting something niche. Her diagnosis of Lyme disease with autoimmune crossover was correct. Her treatment plan was rigorous but compassionate, with weekly check-ins via the hospital portal. She didn't just find the needle in the haystack; she showed me the haystack I didn't know existed.

Our 7-year-old daughter, Elif, developed a high fever and a mysterious abdominal pain that local clinics dismissed as 'a virus.' We rushed to Acibadem Kartal's ER at midnight. Dr. Demirbaş, who was on call, had a calm intensity. She examined Elif with such gentleness, earning her trust by showing her the stethoscope light. While others focused on appendicitis, Dr. Demirbaş questioned the pattern of pain and a faint rash. She suspected Henoch-Schönlein purpura, a rare vascular inflammation in children, and admitted her for observation. She was right. Her ability to pivot from common to rare diagnoses in a frightened child, while making her laugh with cartoon bandages, was a masterclass in holistic internal medicine.

I'm a 45-year-old chef who needed a routine executive health check before a work visa. I expected a quick in-and-out. Dr. Demirbaş reviewed my lifestyle with forensic detail—my long hours, irregular meals, and family history. During the physical, she palpated my abdomen and paused, asking about bloating. I'd normalized it. She insisted on a fecal occult blood test and a colonoscopy referral, over my objections about my age. They found and removed three precancerous polyps. She didn't just check boxes; she listened to the silence between my answers. She turned a bureaucratic necessity into a life-saving intervention with a persistence that felt, in retrospect, like a fierce kind of care.

Dr. dr Zeynep Ondur provided exceptional care for my dietary condition. The treatment was personalized and effective.

I was impressed by the professional approach at Acibadem Kartal Hospital. Dr. dr Zeynep Ondur explained everything clearly and made me feel comfortable.

The recovery process was smooth thanks to Dr. dr Zeynep Ondur's expertise. Highly recommend for dietary treatment.

My family and I are grateful for the care we received from Dr. dr Zeynep Ondur. The hospital staff was also very supportive.