In brief: Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kalko is a Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery practising in Istanbul, Türkiye, with more than 30 years in medicine. He treats arterial and venous disease using both open surgery and catheter-based techniques, with a particular focus on limb salvage. The academic details below are published with dates and figures so that you can verify them yourself in public databases.
At a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Cardiovascular Surgery — Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine (specialist, 2001) |
| Academic titles | Associate Professor (2009) · Professor (2015) |
| Current hospital role | İstinye University Liv Bahçeşehir Hospital — peripheral vascular surgery, since 2017 |
| Private practice | Beylikdüzü, Istanbul — since June 2021 |
| Published research | 51 papers in total · 142 presentations at scientific meetings |
| Citation record | 537 citations · h-index 12 · i10-index 15 (Google Scholar) |
| Main focus | Limb salvage, carotid surgery, peripheral artery disease, diabetic foot, varicose veins, aortic aneurysm |
Education & Career
Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kalko was born in 1970 in Kağızman, in the eastern province of Kars, and completed his schooling in Ankara. He first enrolled in chemical engineering at Hacettepe University in 1987, then changed direction to medicine and entered Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine in 1988, graduating as a physician in 1994.
| Period | Position |
|---|---|
| 1988–1994 | Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine — Doctor of Medicine (1994) |
| 1994–1995 | General practitioner, health centre in Taşköprü, Kastamonu |
| 1995–2001 | Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine — residency in Cardiovascular Surgery (specialist, June 2001) |
| 2001–2010 | Vakıf Gureba Training and Research Hospital — Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic, specialist |
| 2010–2017 | Medical Park Bahçelievler Hospital, Istanbul — physician responsible for aortic and peripheral artery surgery |
| 2017–present | İstinye University Liv Bahçeşehir Hospital — physician responsible for peripheral vascular surgery |
| 2021–present | Private practice in Beylikdüzü, Istanbul |
Vascular Health and Life Center
In 2017 Prof. Dr. Kalko founded the Vascular Health and Life Center within İstinye University Hospital. Its work has centred on stroke surgery, minimally invasive vascular procedures, congenital vascular malformations, diabetic foot and varicose vein disease.
Academic Work
- 51 published papers in total — 21 international (13 original research articles, 4 experimental studies, 4 case reports) and 30 national,
- 142 presentations at scientific meetings (34 international, 108 national),
- 537 citations, an h-index of 12 and an i10-index of 15, according to Google Scholar,
- His most frequently cited work is a study on the surgical treatment of arterial aneurysms in Behçet’s disease, published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery in 2005.
Selected publications
Rather than asking you to take a publication count on trust, the papers themselves are listed here. Each title links to its record in PubMed, the public database maintained by the US National Library of Medicine, where authorship, journal and date can be confirmed independently of this website.
| Publication | Journal, year | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| The surgical treatment of arterial aneurysms in Behçet disease | Journal of Vascular Surgery, 2005 | 185 |
| Effects of atorvastatin on vascular intimal hyperplasia | Angiology, 2009 | 44 |
| Surgery of the carotid artery: local versus general anaesthesia | Acta Chirurgica Belgica, 2007 | 43 |
| Transperitoneal versus retroperitoneal approaches in abdominal aortic surgery | Acta Chirurgica Belgica, 2008 | 32 |
| Visceral artery aneurysms | The Heart Surgery Forum, 2007 | 31 |
| Methylprednisolone and neuron-specific enolase in cardiac surgery | Journal of Cardiac Surgery, 2009 | 31 |
| Epidural anaesthesia and mini-laparotomy for abdominal aortic aneurysms | Acta Chirurgica Belgica, 2007 | 22 |
| Surgical experience in acute spontaneous dissection of the infrarenal aorta | Anadolu Kardiyoloji Dergisi, 2008 | 19 |
| Aortic stiffness in diabetes mellitus | Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 2009 | 19 |
| Carotid endarterectomy under local anaesthesia: single institutional experience | Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, 2006 | 15 |
The full list of indexed international papers is available through the PubMed author search, and the citation metrics quoted above come from the Google Scholar profile. Both are public and neither is controlled by this site.
The subjects cluster in a way that reflects the clinical focus: aortic aneurysm and dissection, carotid surgery under local anaesthesia, access approaches in aortic surgery, dialysis access, and vascular changes in diabetes.
Why these details are published
A patient considering travelling abroad for treatment deserves to check the background of the surgeon independently, rather than relying on what a website says about itself — including this one. That is why the dates, titles, institutions and publication figures above are given specifically enough to be looked up: specialty board date, academic titles and their years, named institutions with the years worked there, and citation metrics that are visible in public scholarly databases.
How the content on this site is produced and reviewed
Medical pages on this site are prepared in line with Prof. Dr. Kalko's specialty and reviewed for medical accuracy before publication. Pages carry a note indicating that the content was prepared within that specialty, and a last-reviewed date so you can judge how current it is.
What the content is based on
- Studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- National and international clinical guidelines and consensus statements.
- Prof. Dr. Kalko's own published research and clinical experience in the field.
- A References section on the relevant pages, listing the sources used.
Accuracy, independence and what is deliberately not published
The content here is for information, not promotion. Wording that asserts superiority over other clinics, or that promises a particular outcome, is not used — neither can be true of an individual patient, and every case is assessed on its own facts. In line with the health advertising regulations in force in Türkiye, patient testimonials, success stories and promises of outcome are not published. If that makes some pages less persuasive than others you may read elsewhere, that is the intended trade-off.
Updating and corrections
Medical knowledge changes, so pages are reviewed periodically and updated where needed. If you notice something inaccurate or out of date, it can be reported through the contact page; corrections are made rather than defended.
Medical disclaimer: everything published here is general information. It does not replace examination, diagnosis or treatment by a physician, and no page should be used to make a decision about your own care on its own. In an emergency, call your local emergency number without delay — 112 in Türkiye and across the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US.
Areas of focus
- Peripheral artery disease and limb salvage,
- Diabetic foot and gangrene,
- Carotid artery disease and stroke prevention,
- Aortic aneurysm,
- Varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency,
- Buerger’s disease, lymphoedema and carotid body tumour,
- Minimally invasive, hybrid and mechanical vessel-opening techniques.
His book
Prof. Dr. Kalko told the story of his own life in a Turkish-language book, Yüreğinde Yer Aç (“Make Room in Your Heart”), published by Yediveren in 2019 in 240 pages. It follows his path from working as a boy in his father’s coffee house to medicine and then cardiovascular surgery. He has said his aim in writing it was to contribute, even a little, to how young people learn about life. The book is in Turkish; there is no official English translation.
Where he sees patients
Prof. Dr. Kalko sees patients at his private practice in Beylikdüzü, on the European side of Istanbul, and has done so since June 2021. If you are planning to travel, the practical sequence — what to send first, what can and cannot be decided remotely, and what determines the length of stay — is set out on the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I verify these credentials independently?
Every figure on this page is given specifically enough to be looked up: the specialty board date, the academic titles with their years, the named institutions with the years worked at each, and the citation metrics. The papers are listed above with links to their own PubMed records, and the metrics come from a public Google Scholar profile. None of those sources is controlled by this website.
Who writes and reviews the medical content here?
Content is prepared in line with Prof. Dr. Kalko’s specialty in cardiovascular surgery and reviewed for medical accuracy before publication. Pages carry a note to that effect together with a last-reviewed date, and the sources used are listed in a References section on the relevant pages.
Why are there no patient testimonials or before-and-after photographs?
Because the health advertising regulations in force in Türkiye do not permit them. Patient testimonials, success stories and promises of outcome are not published here. This is a legal requirement rather than an editorial preference.
What is the main clinical focus?
Arterial and venous disease treated with both open surgery and catheter-based techniques, with particular emphasis on limb salvage — peripheral artery disease, diabetic foot and gangrene, carotid artery disease, aortic aneurysm, varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency, Buerger’s disease, lymphoedema and carotid body tumour.
In which languages can I communicate?
Support is available in English and Arabic for international patients; details of how to make first contact and what to send are on the contact page.
Where are patients seen?
At the private practice in Beylikdüzü, on the European side of Istanbul, in operation since June 2021. The practical sequence for anyone travelling — what to send first, what can be decided remotely and what determines length of stay — is set out on the contact page.
Can an opinion be given before I travel?
An initial remote assessment can be made from your existing reports and scan images. What that assessment can and cannot settle without an examination is explained on the contact page; some decisions genuinely require seeing the patient.
Is there an English translation of the book?
No. Yüreğinde Yer Aç was published in Turkish by Yediveren in 2019 and there is no official English edition.
Conditions: Varicose Veins · Peripheral Artery Disease · Diabetic Foot · Carotid Artery · Aortic Aneurysm
This content is for information purposes only and does not replace a medical consultation. — Cardiovascular Surgeon Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kalko