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Dr. Taha Ozkara - Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery
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Dr. Taha Özkara, Cardiovascular Surgeon • Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery

Safe Heart Surgery
Through a Small Incision

Rapid recovery in coronary bypass and heart valve surgeries with advanced minimally invasive and endoscopic surgical techniques without opening the chest bone.

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CLINICAL APPROACH

Our Surgical Standards

Small Incision Surgery

Treatment without sternotomy

Endoscopic Bypass

Rapid recovery & comfort

Heart Valve Repair

Mitral and aortic valve surgery

1,400+ Surgeries

Clinical experience & success

CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEON

Who is Dr. Taha Özkara?

Dr. Taha Özkara has performed over 1,400 successful open and keyhole heart operations throughout his 16+ years of clinical and surgical experience in cardiovascular surgery. Utilizing modern surgical approaches such as minimally invasive small incisions between ribs without cutting the breastbone and 3D high-resolution endoscopic camera guidance, he provides patients with minimal surgical trauma, negligible blood loss, and rapid postoperative recovery.

16+ Years Clinical Experience Advanced expertise in cardiovascular surgery
1,400+ Successful Operations Beating heart bypass, valve repair, and aortic surgery
Small Incision (Bone Preserved) Intact ribcage with small incisions
Istanbul & Çorlu Modern high-tech surgical centers (JCI Accredited)
Detailed Biography & Surgical Experience
Dr. Taha Ozkara - Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery
16+ Years Surgical & Clinical Experience

OUR TREATMENT AREAS

Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Heart Surgery

Innovative cardiovascular surgical procedures performed through small incisions with high-definition endoscopic camera guidance without cutting the breastbone.

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Kardiyovasküler Cerrahi Operasyonu
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Endoscopic Heart Surgery Technology
Endoscopic Camera Guidance

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Our Experience in Numbers

With over 16 years of cardiovascular clinical experience, micro-surgical techniques avoiding cutting through the breastbone (sternotomy), and a patient-centered approach, we deliver gold-standard safety in cardiac care.

1,400 +

Open & Closed Cardiac Surgeries

Cardiovascular operations successfully completed over 16+ years of specialized clinical career.

4-5 cm

Small Incision Surgery

Surgical interventions performed between ribs without cutting the breastbone (no sternotomy).

3-4 Days

Rapid Recovery & Discharge

Short ICU stay and early discharge, allowing quick return to social and professional life.

95 %+

Natural Valve Repair Rate

Preserving the native heart valve without lifelong blood-thinner anticoagulation dependence.

PATIENT EXPERIENCES

Real Patient Recovery Stories

Verified feedback from our patients who regained their cardiovascular health through minimally invasive heart surgery without sternotomy.

AY

Ahmet Yilmaz

★★★★★ • 3 weeks ago

Because of my diabetes, another clinic insisted on a full sternotomy with severe infection risks, which kept us awake for nights. Dr. Taha performed my beating-heart bypass through a small incision under my left chest. On the 4th day I walked out of the hospital, never wore a chest brace, and never suffered sleeping on my back.

MS

Meral Selvi

★★★★★ • 1 month ago

When severe mitral regurgitation was detected, I was terrified of open chest surgery. Dr. Taha repaired my own valve endoscopically with a small incision hidden under my right breast. It is undetectable and within 10 days I was driving and back to work.

HD

Huseyin Demir

★★★★★ • 2 months ago

With severe COPD, classical open surgery was deemed high risk. Dr. Taha performed beating-heart bypass (MIDCAB) through a mini incision. I experienced zero respiratory complications and was discharged on day 4 in great health.

SK

Suleyman Karaca

★★★★★ • 2 months ago

My 6.2 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm was treated using EVAR through the groin without any abdominal cut. The procedure took 1.5 hours and I walked out the next morning. Exceptional surgical mastery.

FA

Fatma Aydin

★★★★★ • 3 months ago

My congenital atrial septal defect (ASD) was closed completely endoscopically without cutting my breastbone. I had almost no pain and my recovery was remarkably fast. Thank you Dr. Taha and your dedicated team.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Frequently Asked Questions

Expert answers to the most common questions regarding minimally invasive heart surgery, recovery timelines, and surgical procedures.

In traditional open-heart surgery, the breastbone (sternum) is completely divided. In minimally invasive cardiac surgery, the heart is accessed between the ribs through small incisions under the breast or armpit using high-resolution 3D endoscopic cameras. Preserving the thoracic bone structure minimizes surgical trauma, bleeding, and postoperative pain.

It is the endovascular delivery of a specialized stent-graft into the thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm through a needle puncture or small puncture in the groin, avoiding opening the chest or abdomen and allowing discharge in 24 to 48 hours.

Without connecting the patient to a heart-lung machine and without stopping the heart, bypass is performed through a small incision under the left breast using the internal mammary artery (LIMA). Complications associated with cardiopulmonary bypass are prevented, drastically reducing stroke, kidney dysfunction, and bleeding risks.

In patients with diabetes, severe lung disease, or osteoporosis, dividing the sternum carries a high risk of bone non-union and deep wound infections. Because the breastbone is completely untouched in minimally invasive surgery, the risk of breastbone wound infection is significantly lower.

Our surgical priority is always to repair and preserve the patient's own native heart valve. With advanced endoscopic valvuloplasty and annuloplasty rings, the patient's natural valve is restored. If the valve structure is irreversibly damaged, biological or mechanical valve replacement is carried out.

With our vast experience in over 500 cases, carotid stenosis is operated under ultrasound-guided regional cervical block while the patient is fully awake. This allows continuous real-time neurological assessment without general anesthesia risks.

Aortic valve operations are performed through a right anterior mini-thoracotomy (a small cut incision between the 2nd and 3rd ribs) or mini-sternotomy without cutting the complete breastbone. The rib cage remains entirely stable and functional.

Yes. Arterial narrowing in the legs is treated through a groin puncture under local anesthesia using balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, and stenting, restoring arterial flow without surgical incisions.

Yes. Tricuspid valve regurgitation and leakage are treated via a small incision under the right breast with 3D camera guidance, ensuring minimal trauma and rapid hemodynamic stabilization.

Absolutely yes. Atrial septal defects (ASD) are closed endoscopically through a small cosmetic incision under the right breast using autologous pericardium, leaving no visible front chest scars.

RECENT ARTICLES

Health Guide & Medical Blog

Contemporary cardiovascular treatments, surgical innovations, recovery protocols, and heart health recommendations.

Dr. Taha Özkara: Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery

Dr. Taha Özkara, with over 16 years of cardiovascular surgical experience and more than 1,400 successful open and closed operations, is a leading surgeon in minimally invasive (small incision) and endoscopic heart surgery in Turkey. Our core surgical principle is to minimize physical trauma by accessing the heart through small incisions between the ribs under high-resolution endoscopic visualization, completely avoiding cutting through the breastbone (sternotomy) required in traditional surgery.

Small Incision Cardiac Surgery: Safe Treatment Without Cutting the Breastbone

This advanced surgical technique preserves full thoracic stability. Because the ribs and sternum remain intact, post-surgical pain is drastically reduced, blood transfusion requirements are minimized, and the risk of breastbone wound infection is significantly lower, offering exceptional safety for elderly, diabetic, and COPD patients.

Beating Heart Off-Pump Bypass (MIDCAB) and Endoscopic Valve Repair

In coronary artery disease, bypass surgery is performed on the beating heart through a small mini-thoracotomy incision without stopping the heart or using a heart-lung machine. For mitral and aortic valve pathologies, priority is always placed on repairing the native valve, freeing patients from lifelong blood thinners.

Carotid Artery, Peripheral Vascular & Congenital Heart Interventions

Awake carotid surgery is performed under regional anesthesia so you stay awake, enabling the surgical team to continuously monitor your neurological status throughout the procedure. Furthermore, peripheral arterial diseases are cleared via minimally invasive endovascular techniques, and adult congenital heart defects are closed without bone division.

Rapid Recovery, High-Risk Patient Groups & Surgical Second Opinions

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery provides vital safety margins for diabetic, COPD, and renal patients who face dangerous risks with traditional open surgery. Full remote record review and detailed second opinion evaluations are provided for all international patients.