Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery in Istanbul, Türkiye — focused on vascular disease: varicose veins, peripheral artery disease, the diabetic foot, carotid and aortic conditions, with minimally invasive and hybrid techniques and an emphasis on limb salvage.
Areas of Focus
Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kalko evaluates and manages a broad range of vascular conditions. Particular focus is given to minimally invasive and hybrid (open + catheter-based) techniques and to limb salvage in advanced artery disease and the diabetic foot. Each plan is based on individual examination and imaging.
Where to Start
What troubles most people at the beginning is not a shortage of information but too much of it. The table below links the complaint you actually have to the page that explains it, so you can start from where you are rather than from the top of a list:
| Symptom | What it may point to | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Calf cramp that starts after a set distance and eases when you stand still | Narrowing of the leg arteries | Peripheral artery disease |
| Heaviness and swelling that build through the day, with visible veins | Venous reflux | Varicose veins |
| A foot wound that will not heal in someone with diabetes | Diabetic foot — urgent assessment | Diabetic foot |
| Brief weakness on one side, slurred speech, or loss of vision in one eye | Possible carotid narrowing | Carotid artery disease |
| A pulsation or mass in the abdomen, or an incidental scan finding | Aortic dilatation | Aortic aneurysm |
| Blackening of a toe or part of the foot | Gangrene — this does not wait | Gangrene |
| Chronic swelling of a whole limb that does not settle overnight | Possible lymphoedema | Lymphoedema |
| A painless neck lump that moves sideways but not up and down | Possible carotid body tumour | Carotid body tumour |
| No symptoms, but diabetes, smoking or a family history | Preventive vascular assessment | Vascular diseases overview |
Vascular Conditions & Treatments
Information about the conditions evaluated and treated by Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kalko:
More Conditions
- Stroke — causes, the F.A.S.T. signs and prevention,
- Chronic venous insufficiency — the reflux behind varicose veins,
- Lymphoedema — how it differs from venous and systemic swelling,
- Buerger’s disease — tobacco-related artery disease in younger adults,
- Carotid body tumour — a slow-growing neck mass at the carotid bifurcation,
- Gangrene — tissue loss and limb salvage,
Treatments and Techniques
- Minimally invasive vascular surgery and hybrid surgery for multi-level disease,
- Mechanical vessel-opening (atherectomy),
- Endovenous laser (EVLA), foam sclerotherapy, spider vein treatment and non-surgical options,
- Heart topics for patients searching them: TAVI, arrhythmia and rheumatic valve disease.
For International Patients
Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kalko welcomes patients from abroad for vascular evaluation and treatment in Istanbul:
- Pre-travel assessment: share your medical reports and imaging (Doppler/CT) via WhatsApp or email for an initial review.
- Second opinion on an existing diagnosis or treatment plan.
- Planning your visit: appointment scheduling and guidance for your time in Istanbul.
- Correspondence in English — please share documents in English where possible.
- Arrange the assessment before booking flights, not after — the kind of procedure that may be needed is what determines the length of stay and the number of follow-up visits.
- What a remote review can and cannot do: it can indicate the likely direction and which test is missing. Anyone who gives you a definitive plan and an exact length of stay before examining you is promising more than can be known at that stage.
About Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kalko
Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kalko is a Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery based in Istanbul, with over 30 years of experience and academic publications in the field. His clinical focus is on vascular disease — varicose veins, peripheral artery disease, the diabetic foot, carotid and aortic conditions — with an emphasis on minimally invasive and hybrid techniques and on limb salvage in advanced cases. Each patient is evaluated individually and treatment is recommended based on examination and imaging. Read the full profile →
Before symptoms: a vascular check-up explains what is assessed in people with risk factors but no complaints, and colour Doppler ultrasound explains the scan that most of it rests on.
Articles
The condition pages above start from a diagnosis. If you are starting from a symptom instead, the articles section works the other way round — leg pain on walking, choosing between varicose vein treatments, diabetic foot and limb salvage, carotid disease and stroke prevention and deep vein thrombosis. There is also an interactive one: what should your pulse rate be gives the normal ranges by age and asks the question that matters more than the number — whether your pulse is regular.
Nine self-checks and calculators — leg circulation, varicose veins, leg swelling, diabetic foot risk, pulse, blood pressure, cholesterol, overall risk and BMI — are collected on the health tools page. All of them run in your browser and store nothing.
If you have been told a vessel cannot be opened, or that amputation is the only option, see second opinion and limb salvage. For carotid surgery performed under local anaesthesia with the patient awake, see awake carotid surgery.
Also covered: dialysis fistula creation and care, and VenaSeal glue for varicose veins without heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a remote consultation or second opinion?
You can share your medical reports and imaging for an initial assessment and a second opinion. A definitive treatment plan still requires an in-person examination.
How do I share my medical reports?
Send them via WhatsApp (+90 552 324 45 41) or by email to info@yusufkalko.com. Recent imaging (Doppler/CT) and blood tests are the most helpful.
Which conditions does Prof. Dr. Kalko focus on?
Vascular conditions: varicose veins, peripheral artery disease, the diabetic foot, carotid and aortic disease, and minimally invasive / hybrid vascular surgery.
Where is the clinic located?
Beylikdüzü, Istanbul, Türkiye. Appointment and contact details are on the contact page.
In which language is communication provided?
Correspondence can be handled in English; please share your documents in English where possible.
This content is for information purposes only and does not replace a medical consultation. Diagnosis and treatment require an in-person examination.