While waiting for a heart transplant he regained his health with medication

Göktuğ Alp Şiş (3), who was on the waiting list for a heart transplant due to heart failure that developed after an infection in Ankara, recovered his health without needing a transplant thanks to the treatment applied at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital.

Göktuğ Alp Şiş, the only child of Neslihan and Samet Şiş, was taken to different hospitals 1.5 years ago with complaints of swelling in his feet, edema in his abdomen, and shortness of breath after an upper respiratory tract infection.

Tests revealed that Göktuğ Alp's heart muscle was severely affected after the infection, and his heart functions had deteriorated to critical levels, requiring a heart transplant. Göktuğ Alp was then referred to Ankara Bilkent City Hospital.

Evaluations there revealed that the left side of his heart was severely affected, and his heart contraction strength was less than half of what it should be, and drug treatment was started. Facing a life-threatening risk due to severe myocardial disease that developed after the infection, Göktuğ Alp recovered his health without needing a transplant thanks to the appropriate treatments applied for the infection and heart failure.

"HIS HEART WAS WORKING AT AROUND 30 PERCENT"

Prof. Dr., Pediatric Cardiology Specialist at Bilkent City Hospital Professor İbrahim Ece stated that the family had initially applied to different centers, saying, "Göktuğ Alp's heart muscle was affected due to a severe heart disease that developed after an infection, and his heart was unable to perform its normal function.

He had been hospitalized in intensive care units at different centers. He has a 3-4 month hospitalization history. He had started appropriate treatments at other centers, but it was a difficult process. Since our hospital is a heart transplant center, he applied to our hospital after his intensive care.

We conducted our assessments before the transplant process. We adjusted his medication for heart failure and continued his treatment for the severe infection he had contracted at the center he was admitted to before applying to us. We adjusted his treatment according to his clinical condition, laboratory values, and echocardiographic findings. Göktuğ Alp was receiving multiple drug treatments. When he applied to us, he had severe heart failure, meaning the left side of his heart was seriously affected. His left heart, which should normally function at over 60%, was functioning at around 30% and was in a critical condition."

"A MIRACULOUS SITUATION"

Prof. Dr. Ece stated that Göktuğ Alp's condition was improving day by day with medication for both his heart failure and the severe infection he had contracted, saying, "If it had worsened, we would have performed catheter angiography before the transplant and discussed it with the transplant team to plan accordingly. But Göktuğ Alp responded well to the medical treatment, which is medication, and we were able to achieve encouraging results over time. In this disease, very serious situations can arise due to myocardial infection.

Respiratory distress can increase. We may have to connect the patient to a ventilator. We may have to implant an artificial heart. But these situations did not occur in Göktuğ. He got better. It's truly like a miracle. Normally, this disease may not improve. Thank God, the treatments responded well. Families should not worry. Not all cases of heart failure due to infection lead to heart transplantation. Not all of these children are lost. With good and appropriate treatment and follow-up, we can restore a significant portion of these patients to normal health. So they shouldn't lose hope."

Göktuğ Alp's mother, Neslihan Şiş, said that her son has recovered his health, stating, "We are in very good condition now. He runs and plays like his peers. He can meet his own needs. His values ​​are currently above 50 percent. His medication has been reduced. Hopefully, everything will improve in the future without even needing medication. With the right treatment, proper follow-up, and therapy, good results can be achieved."

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