About me
Hi!
My name is Alper Özgür. I am a cardiovascular surgeon currently practicing at the University Hospital of Northern Sweden in Umeå. My clinical and academic background spans over a decade and includes experience in both public and private healthcare systems across Sweden and Türkiye.
I obtained my medical degree from Çukurova University in Adana, Türkiye. Throughout my education, I had the opportunity to broaden my medical perspective through studies in Spain (Universitat de Lleida) and Latvia (Rīga Stradiņš University), which deeply enriched both my clinical approach and cultural understanding.
Following medical school, I entered the Cardiovascular Surgery Residency Program at Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Research Hospital in Ankara. There, I developed a strong foundation in cardiac and vascular surgical techniques, with early exposure to complex procedures including coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacements, and acute vascular emergencies.
In the latter part of my residency, I continued my training at Ankara University, where I focused on advanced cardiovascular interventions, perioperative management, and postoperative care. During this time, I gained significant experience in open heart surgery, aortic aneurysm repair, endovascular procedures, advanced life support systems (ECMO,LVAD) and heart transplantations while also participating in academic case discussions and clinical teaching activities.
Between 2017 and 2023, I served in several institutions including Yozgat City Hospital, Güven Sağlık Grubu, and Memorial Healthcare Group in Ankara, focusing on both open and endovascular procedures. Since 2023, I have been a part of the vascular surgery team at the University Hospital of Northern Sweden, where I continue to develop my clinical and academic interests in vascular and endovascular interventions.
This blog serves as a platform to share professional insights, academic reflections, and developments in the field of cardiovascular surgery.
Experience
| Hospital | Date |
|---|---|
| Universityhospital of Northern Sweden | August 2023 - Present |
| Memorial Healthcare Group | May 2022 - August 2023 |
| Güven Sağlık Grubu | May 2021 - June 2022 |
| Yozgat City Hospital | November 2017 - May 2021 |
Education
| University | Date |
|---|---|
| Ankara University | January 2014 - November 2017 |
| Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Research Hospital | January 2012 - January 2014 |
| Universitat de Lleida | 2007 - 2008 (6 months) |
| Rīga Stradiņš University | 2006 - 2006 (1 month) |
| Cukurova University | 2003 - 2009 |
Doctoral Thesis
Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery: A Contemporary Perspective
My medical specialization thesis, conducted at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, focused on the implementation and outcomes of minimally invasive surgical techniques in cardiac surgery. While minimally invasive methods have long been adopted in various surgical disciplines, their integration into cardiac surgery has occurred more gradually, primarily due to the satisfactory results achieved with conventional approaches and the technical demands of heart operations.
Traditional cardiac surgery typically involves median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), offering broad surgical access but at the cost of increased postoperative recovery time and potential complications. In contrast, minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) seeks to reduce surgical trauma by avoiding full sternotomy and, where possible, minimizing or modifying CPB. Techniques such as right or left mini-thoracotomy, J-sternotomy, and subxiphoid incisions are employed to limit tissue damage and promote faster recovery.
This thesis outlines a systematic approach adopted in our clinic for MICS, emphasizing the importance of team coordination among surgeons, anesthesiologists, and operating room staff. Particular attention is paid to patient selection, as favorable outcomes depend on choosing appropriate cases during the early phases of institutional experience. Additionally, the thesis addresses unique complications associated with MICS and the importance of developing strategies tailored to these challenges.
Ultimately, the study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive cardiac surgery. With advancements in technology and increasing experience, MICS continues to evolve as a promising alternative to conventional methods, offering patients less invasive yet equally effective surgical solutions.
Articles
An experience in the COVID-19 pandemic period: Turkish Cardiovascular Surgery Online Board Exam 2020
Şahin H,Özgür A, Paker T, Atay Y (2022)
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 30(1), 44–50.
Results of late-onset type A aortic dissection after previous cardiac surgery: Does prior coronary artery bypass grafting affect survival?
Özçınar E, Çakıcı M, Baran Ç, Gümüş F,Özgür A, Yazıcıoğlu L, Kaya B, Akar AR (2018)
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 26(1), 1–7.
A Retrospective Analysis of Surgical Femoral Artery Closure Techniques: Conventional versus Purse Suture Technique
Cakici M, Yazicioglu L, Baran C, Ozcinar E,Özgür A, Soykan C, Eryilmaz S, Bilgic S, Kaya B, Akar AR (2017)
Annals of Vascular Surgery, 44, 103–112
The role of C-reactive protein on detection of postoperative atrial fibrillation in cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Öztürk S, Öztürk İ, İlhan S,Özgür A(2015)
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 182–190
Surgery for severe aortic coarctation in a 55-year-old female patient
Taşar M, Özçınar E, Hodo B,Özgür A, Eryılmaz S, Kaya B (2015)
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 23(4), 779–780
Guidelines
Oral Presentations
Concomitant stented bioprothesis aortic valve and mitral valve implantation, our experience
Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery, Annual Congress; Antalya, Turkey - 2016
Free floating thrombus in carotid artery
Turkish Society of Vascular Surgery, Annual Congress; İstanbul, Turkey - 2013
Poster Presentations
Kalf bölgesinde yerleşim gösteren derin ven trombozu ve rezidüel ven tıkanıklıklarının düşük molekül ağırlıklı heparin tedavisi sonrası ultrason ile değerlendirilmesi
Evren Özçınar, Mehmet Çakıcı, Çağdaş Baran, Ali İhsan Hasde, Fatih Gümüş, Alper Özgür, Mustafa Serkan Durdu, Mustafa Bahadır İnan, Sadik Eryılmaz, Mustafa Şırlak, Bülent Kaya, Ahmet Rüçhan Akar
18th Congress of Turkish National Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery; Cyprus - 2017
Long Term Follow Up of Patients Undergone Redo Cardioaortic Surgery
Evren Özçınar, Fatih Gümüş, Alper Özgür, Anar Aliyev, Mehmet Çakıcı,Çağdaş Baran, Mustafa Bahadır İnan, Bülent Kaya, Ahmet Rüçhan Akar
14th Congress of Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery; Antalya, Turkey 2016
Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: Our experience
Serkan Durdu, Mustafa Bahadır Inan, Mehmet Çakıcı, Evren Özçınar, Alper Özgür, Fatih Gümüş, Nur Dikmen Yaman, Onat Bermede, Çiğdem Evren Denker, Menekşe Gerede, Mustafa Şırlak, Ahmet Rüçhan Akar
2nd Minimally Invasive and Robotic Cardiovascular Surgery Symposium and ISMICS 2015 Winter Workshop
Minimally Invasive Surgical Closure of Atrial Septal Defects: Our Experience and Results
Serkan Durdu, Mustafa Bahadır Inan, Evren Özçınar, Mehmet Çakıcı, Fatih Gümüş, Nur Dikmen Yaman, Alper Özgür, Mehmet Cahit Sarıcaoğlu, Onat Bermede, Çiğdem Benal Evren Denker, Mustafa Şırlak, Ahmet Rüçhan Akar
2nd Minimally Invasive and Robotic Cardiovascular Surgery Symposium and ISMICS 2015 Winter Workshop
Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement through right anterior thoracotomy
Mustafa Bahadır Inan, Serkan Durdu, Mehmet Çakıcı, Evren Özçınar, Nur Dikmen Yaman, Alper Özgür, Fatih Gümüş, Onat Bermede, Menekşe Gerede, Mustafa Şırlak, Atilla Aral, Ahmet Rüçhan Akar
2nd Minimally Invasive and Robotic Cardiovascular Surgery Symposium and ISMICS 2015 Winter Workshop
Dual extracranial carotid artery aneurysm: a case report
Evren Özçınar, Mehmet Çakıcı, Hüseyin Göktaş, Alper Özgür, Vahit Mahmadov, Sadik Eryilmaz, Bulent Kaya, Adnan Uysalel
13th Congress of Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery; Antalya, Turkey 2014
Evaluation of the Effect of Endovenous Ablation Catheters in the Junctional Segment
Evren Ozcinar, Mehmet Cakici, Unsal Han, Oktay Korun, Metin Yilmaz, Selen Ozturk Caki, Ali Bulut, Alper Ozgur Ceylan Kuran Akit, Ugursay Kiziltepe
14th Congress of Asian Society for Vascular Surgery; Istanbul, Turkey -2013
İpsilateral ilyak arter ve femoropopliteal lezyonu olan hastalarda ilyak artere pta/stentleme sonrası femoropopliteal by-pass yapılan hastaların sonuçları
Metin Yılmaz, Evren Özçınar, Mustafa Seren, Ali Bulut, Alper Özgür, Alp Dolgun, Uğursay Kızıltepe
14th Congress of Asian Society for Vascular Surgery; Istanbul, Turkey -2013
Travelling Bullet
Kasim Karapinar, Bahadır Külah, Ali Bulut, Alper Özgür, Cengizhan Bayyurt, Senan Hüseynov
14th Congress of Asian Society for Vascular Surgery; Istanbul, Turkey -2013
Congress Participations
| Turkish Society of Vascular Surgery, Annual Congress, Turkey 2013 |
| Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery, Annual Congress, Turkey 2014 |
| Turkish Society of Vascular Surgery, Annual Congress, Turkey 2015 |
| Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery, Annual Congress, Turkey 2016 |
Course Participations
| European Vascular Course (EVC), Maastricht, 2018 |
| Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery, Ankara, 2016 |
| ECMO techniques and management course, Ankara, 2015 |
| EVAR & TEVAR hands on simulation course, İstanbul, 2014 |
| Resident Summer School, Eskişehir, Turkey 2014 |