Atıf Akçevin — Koç University Hospital, Istanbul

More about the doctor

Atıf Akçevin is a professor of cardiovascular surgery at Koç University Hospital in Istanbul. He operates on adults and children: coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve and aortic surgery, and repair of congenital heart defects, including in adults. According to the hospital, he has been in practice since 1985, when he completed his residency.

He completed medical school and a residency in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Hacettepe University between 1972 and 1985. He then worked at the Istanbul University Institute of Cardiology, held academic posts at universities in Istanbul, and since 2018 has been a professor at Koç University School of Medicine.

The hospital lists his clinical interests as minimally invasive and robot-assisted heart surgery, aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection, and catheter-based and endovascular procedures. TAVI replaces the aortic valve through a catheter without opening the chest; EVAR and TEVAR place a stent graft in the abdominal or thoracic aorta.

Among his recent papers (PubMed, 2024–2025) are studies on the care of children after congenital heart surgery, namely nutrition and blood transfusion after the operation, and on off-pump bypass surgery in moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Education and career

1972–1979

Faculty of Medicine

Hacettepe University
1979–1985

Residency in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery

Hacettepe University
1985–1993

Cardiovascular surgery

Istanbul University Institute of Cardiology
1990–1993

Cardiovascular surgery

Florence Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul
2008–2012

Cardiovascular surgery

Istanbul Bilim University; Florence Nightingale Hospital Kadıköy
2012–2017

Cardiovascular surgery

Medipol University
since 2018

Cardiovascular surgery

Koç University School of Medicine; Koç University Hospital
1990

Associate professor

Florence Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul
2009

Professor

Istanbul Bilim University

What heart surgery Dr. Atıf Akçevin performs

Atıf Akçevin is a cardiovascular surgeon who treats both adult and pediatric patients. According to Koç University Hospital (2026), his clinical interests include:

coronary artery disease: coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG);
heart valve disease: valve repair, which preserves the patient's own valve, and valve replacement;
aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection;
TAVI (TAVR): transcatheter aortic valve implantation;
EVAR and TEVAR: endovascular repair of the abdominal and thoracic aorta with a stent graft placed through an artery;
minimally invasive and robot-assisted cardiac surgery, done through small incisions instead of a full sternotomy;
congenital heart disease in children, and in adults whose defect was never repaired or needs a repeat operation.

The surgeon chooses the method after reviewing the patient's tests: the same diagnosis often has more than one surgical option.

Education and experience

Atıf Akçevin graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1979 and completed his thoracic and cardiovascular surgery residency there in 1985. According to the hospital, he has been in practice since 1985.

After residency he worked at the Istanbul University Institute of Cardiology. His professorship is confirmed by the hospital and by Koç University School of Medicine; before Koç he was a professor at Medipol University (2012–2017). Since 2018 he has been a professor at Koç University School of Medicine, the academic home of Koç University Hospital. The full timeline is in the "Education and career" section.

Research

He publishes in cardiac surgery journals. Papers from 2024–2025 include:

reaching caloric goals in children after surgery for congenital heart disease (Cardiology in the Young, 2025);
off-pump revascularization in moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation (Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, 2025);
when to stop red blood cell transfusions after congenital heart surgery (Cardiology in the Young, 2024).

Where he sees patients

Atıf Akçevin sees patients at Koç University Hospital, the university hospital of Koç University in the Topkapı district of Istanbul. He works in the cardiovascular surgery department, which treats both adults and children.

Questions and answers

Where does Atıf Akçevin see patients?

At Koç University Hospital in the Topkapı district of Istanbul. It is the university hospital of Koç University, where he has been a professor at the School of Medicine since 2018.

What heart operations does Atıf Akçevin perform?

According to the hospital, he operates on coronary artery disease (bypass surgery), heart valve disease (repair and replacement), aortic aneurysm and dissection, and congenital heart defects. His clinical interests also include minimally invasive and robot-assisted cardiac surgery and transcatheter procedures such as TAVI, EVAR and TEVAR.

Does he operate on children?

Yes. Pediatric cardiovascular surgery is one of his confirmed specialties, alongside adult surgery. He treats congenital heart defects in children and in adults whose defect remains or needs a repeat operation.

How long has he been in practice?

Since 1985, according to the hospital, when he finished his thoracic and cardiovascular surgery residency at Hacettepe University. He became an associate professor in 1990 and a professor in 2009.

What language is the consultation in?

The hospital does not list the languages he speaks. Check the consultation language, and whether you need an interpreter, when booking. The hospital says it provides interpreters.