17.04.2025 08:00
The images of the Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and Istanbul MP of the DEM Party, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, before his heart attack have emerged following his serious heart surgery and subsequent admission to intensive care. It has been reported that Önder went to a restaurant in Beyoğlu in the afternoon, ordered stuffed grape leaves and casserole, and then fell ill after leaving the venue and heading home.
Due to a heart condition, the Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and Istanbul MP of the DEM Party, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, was hospitalized after undergoing a very challenging 12-hour surgery and is currently receiving treatment in intensive care.
WENT TO A RESTAURANT IN THE AFTERNOON
Footage of Sırrı Süreyya Önder before his heart attack has emerged. According to a report by Uğur Alaattinoğlu from Show News, Önder went to a restaurant in Beyoğlu in the afternoon.
JOKED WITH THE STAFF AND PLACED HIS ORDER
Önder was cheerful as he entered the restaurant. After a brief chat with the staff, he ordered stuffed grape leaves and casserole. While waiting for his order at his table, he checked his mobile phone.
COLLAPSED AFTER RETURNING HOME
While eating, Önder had a short conversation with the restaurant owner, who is also a film producer, Selahattin Kat. After leaving the venue in Beyoğlu and returning home, Önder collapsed and called for an ambulance.
ÖNDER'S DOCTOR: HE REACTED WHEN HIS DAUGHTER ENTERED
Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, DEM Party Istanbul MP, and member of the Imralı Delegation, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, was hospitalized last night due to a heart condition. Önder was brought to a private hospital in Çağlayan, Istanbul, where he underwent surgery at 11:30 PM due to a tear in the aorta. Önder's surgery, which lasted approximately 12 hours, ended in the early hours of this morning. Önder, whose vital condition is critical, was then moved to intensive care.
"ÖNDER REACTED WHEN HIS DAUGHTER ENTERED"
Lastly, Prof. Dr. Ertan Sağbaş, who performed Önder's surgery, informed Tuncer Bakırhan, Co-Chair of the DEM Party. Sağbaş stated, "There is improvement in one parameter related to circulation, and the bleeding seems to have stopped. There is a situation where he is trying to breathe on his own. He reacted when his daughter entered. These are good signs, but the issue of not pumping on the right side of his heart continues. The machine that takes over the body functions is performing the duties of the heart and lungs," he said.
Prof. Dr. Çavlan Çiftçi, Rector of Demiroğlu Science University, made a statement to the press waiting outside the hospital regarding Önder's health condition. Çiftçi explained that Önder was brought to the hospital by 112 ambulance teams without a pulse, intubated, and accompanied by heart-lung resuscitation. He reported that spontaneous circulation was achieved after approximately 10 minutes of heart-lung resuscitation in the emergency department. After a pulse was detected, an emergency echocardiography resulted in a diagnosis of type 1 aortic dissection. Çiftçi stated, "Type 1 aortic dissection involves bleeding into all layers of the aorta, including the main aorta that exits the heart, the aortic arch, and the descending aorta. Subsequently, at 11:05 PM, our patient experienced arrhythmia again, and pulse and circulation stopped. The patient was urgently taken to the operating room, and the operation began at 11:35 PM. Our operation lasted 12 hours," he expressed.
"ONE OF THE LARGEST HEART SURGERIES WE'VE PERFORMED"
Prof. Dr. Çiftçi reported that during the surgery, it was determined that the aortic dissection started from the right coronary artery and involved the entire aorta. He continued, "A coronary bypass was performed on the right coronary artery, the aortic valve was replaced, and then grafting and anastomosis procedures were completed along the entire aorta. Unfortunately, this dissection starting from the right coronary also caused a small rupture and perforation. This type 1 dissection affecting the aorta is one of the largest heart surgeries we perform. It is actually a surgery with a very high mortality rate and a very high risk to life. Again, due to the size of this dissection and its involvement of the right coronary artery that supplies the heart, the ECMO (heart-lung support device) that was placed during the surgery resulted in contraction in the left ventricle while there is still no contraction in the patient's right ventricle. The reason for the lack of contraction in the right ventricle is that the dissection is at the starting point of the right coronary and the patient has experienced a right ventricular infarction. After all these procedures lasting nearly 12 hours, our patient was taken to the intensive care unit with ECMO support, meaning with the support of the mechanical heart circulation device. He still maintains his life risk, and his treatment continues in intensive care."
"COMPLAINED AND COLLAPSED"
Prof. Dr. Erkan Sağbaş, who performed Önder's surgery, stated that aortic dissection is one of the most challenging health issues to treat in heart surgery. He explained that in this case, the dissection started from where the main artery exits the heart and extended back to the aortic valve. "The right coronary is one of the arteries that carries oxygen to the heart. The right coronary was trapped in the dissection, and there was also a slight tear at the mouth of the right coronary. This dissection blocked the mouth of the right coronary. Probably, one of the main reasons for Mr. Sırrı collapsing after complaining when he arrived at the emergency room was this," he said.
"THERE WAS A CRISIS AFFECTING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HEART"
Sağbaş stated, "Due to the dissection and the involvement of the right coronary, there was also a heart attack. So, there was both dissection and a crisis affecting the right side of the heart. Therefore, it was a severe pathology. We noticed this and immediately performed the bypass, corrected the aortic dissection and the aneurysm. However, since the heart was very battered and had taken a lot of hits, we let it rest," he expressed.
HEART WAS RESTED AND BLEEDING CONTROL WAS PERFORMED
Sağbaş noted that the procedures were completed around 4:00 AM, but they rested the heart and performed bleeding control, stating that the surgery took 11-12 hours. He mentioned that they had performed many dissection surgeries of this type before, but Önder's condition was one of the most complicated dissections he had seen in a long time. He remarked that they were very tired, saying, "You are performing surgery for 12 hours without losing your concentration; it is not an easy task." Sağbaş explained that Önder had previously been diagnosed with aortic dilation, and his condition, which was not at the intervention threshold, was being monitored with medication.
"AORTA WAS PURPLE, RUPTURED, AND DILATED"
Sağbaş described Önder's health condition upon arrival at the hospital, stating, "The aorta was purple, ruptured, and dilated."
We took him to the operating table with massage, and we transitioned from the groin veins to the heart-lung machine with massage. Once the body circulation was relaxed, we stopped the massage. His heart had stopped," he said.
"REALLY IN A VERY CRITICAL POSITION"
Sağbaş emphasized that they performed the surgery with a large team specialized in aortic surgery, stating, "After this, it is not possible to talk about the long-term condition of a patient who is on ECMO, intubated, and receiving high doses of heart-supporting medication. We cannot say this will happen at this hour, or this will happen today. We monitor our patient by evaluating real-time data and adjust the treatment accordingly. We have seen some partial adjustments in certain parameters with ECMO, but our patient is really in a very critical position. We also do not talk about the long term; it is not possible for us to say anything to you." Meanwhile, the 11th President Abdullah Gül, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan, some deputies from the DEM Party and CHP, and many visitors came to the hospital to get information about Önder's health status.