
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erkan Yıldırım is a thoracic surgeon with Turkish Thoracic Surgery Proficiency Certification (2003). He is also a member of the European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons (FETCS). Dr. Yıldırım completed fellowships at several international centers. At the Toronto Lung Transplant Program, he took part in 85 recipient surgeries and nearly 100 donor organ procurements.
Dr. Yıldırım wrote Turkey’s first overseas clinical publication on lung transplantation. He has presented at 37 international and 19 national congresses. He serves as a reviewer for leading journals and holds four patents in biomedical engineering. His areas of expertise include lung cancer, chest wall tumors, mesothelioma, benign lung diseases, and advanced chest wall deformity surgeries.
Personal medical coordinator
Medical travel arrangements — booking of air tickets and hotel rooms at special partner prices
Patient advocacy during medical travel
A lung lobectomy is an operation to remove a lobe of an organ when it is damaged.
In most cases, surgeons perform the procedure for lung cancer.
Surgeons from foreign medical centers perform lobectomy using the video-assisted thoracoscopic VATS method. They perform manipulations through 2-5 incisions of 2.5 cm each. Recovery after such a procedure is faster than after traditional open surgery.
Bookimed has identified the 3 most popular countries for lobectomy among residents of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
In medical centers in Germany, the accuracy of diagnosis is 100%. Thanks to this, German specialists correctly determine the scope of intervention.
In Israel, patients are operated on by experienced and qualified surgeons. They study and train in leading European and American clinics. Thanks to this, Israeli surgeons are improving the methods of performing lobectomy.
The main advantage of a lobectomy in Turkey is its cost. The price for the procedure here is lower than in Israel and Germany.
88% of operations in Turkey pass without complications.
When choosing a clinic for a lobectomy, focus on:
Surgical lobectomy is indicated for patients with:
Doctors do not perform surgery on people with:
Thoracotomy
The doctor makes an incision 8-20 cm long and removes the lobe of the lung.
Benefits: The procedure provides the surgeon with good visibility.
Disadvantages: the operation leaves a large scar. Recovery takes up to 2 weeks.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATS)
The doctor performs the procedure through 3-5 incisions up to 2.5 cm. Through one incision, he inserts a tube with a camera that controls the course of the procedure. Through the remaining 2 incisions, he performs manipulations with special instruments.
Advantages: the procedure leaves small scars. Recovery is 2-3 times faster than after open surgery.
Disadvantages: VATS provides the surgeon with less visibility than a thoracotomy.
Preparation for a lung lobectomy includes:
During the operation, the patient is under general anesthesia. Depending on the type of lobectomy, the surgeon performs an incision 8-20 cm long or 3 incisions of 2.5 cm each, and removes a lobe of the lung.
The intervention takes 2 to 3 hours.
The duration of hospitalization after removal of a lung lobe for cancer depends on the technique. After an open operation, a person stays in the clinic for 1-2 weeks, after a low-traumatic operation - 4-5 days.
To restore lung function, the doctor prescribes breathing exercises.
88% of lobectomy abroad pass without complications. Among the possible violations of the body - breathing problems. Patients restore it with the help of special exercises.
Yes, clinics provide coordinators for foreign patients. They help with translation and paperwork, accompany at all stages of diagnosis and treatment.
To perform a lung lobectomy abroad, leave a request on the Bookimed website. A specialized doctor-coordinator will contact you. He will select several medical centers that will meet your wishes in terms of quality and price. Together with the coordinator, you will choose the best of the proposed hospitals.
To book a consultation date, please send us your medical records. The coordinating doctor will send them to the selected clinic and request a diagnostic and treatment program.
We will stay in touch from the moment you contact us until you return home.