Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Medicine Hospital, the only center in the Black Sea Region where liver transplantation is performed, has successfully carried out an exemplary living-donor liver transplantation operation.

Last year, on 10 December, Ayşe Öztürk (59), who had applied to hospitals in the city with complaints of back pain, was found to have a mass in her liver following medical examinations. She was subsequently referred to the OMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital.

After being examined by Oğuzhan Özşay, Head of the OMU Liver Transplantation Unit, and Kağan Karabulut, it was determined that Ayşe Öztürk required a liver transplant. Initially, her son Şenol Öztürk (40) volunteered to become a donor; however, tissue compatibility was not suitable. Following this, Ayşe Öztürk’s daughter-in-law, Tuğba Öztürk (34), expressed her willingness to donate, and compatibility was confirmed after medical testing. The living-donor liver transplantation was successfully performed on 17 December 2025. It was reported that both the donor and the recipient were in good health following the surgery, which involved a team of approximately 25 healthcare professionals.

Rector Aydın: “Finding a living donor is quite difficult”

Following the operation, OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın visited the patient and stated:

“Organ failure is a major public health issue that leads to serious problems for individuals. It is one of the most significant factors affecting our country’s economy, workforce losses, and quality of life. Unfortunately, some of our patients cannot be treated with medication or surgical interventions alone. In such cases, the only solution becomes organ or tissue transplantation. At that point, our faculty members step in. While finding a cadaveric organ donor is relatively easier, finding a living donor is quite difficult. The main reason for this difficulty is the lack of sufficient public awareness on this issue.”

Fourth living-donor liver transplantation in 2025

Noting that this was the fourth living-donor liver transplantation performed in 2025, Rector Prof. Dr. Aydın continued:

“This work is carried out by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oğuzhan Özşay and, of course, his team. Performing a living-donor organ transplant is a major undertaking. Approximately 25 people are involved in the team during the transplantation process alone. Two operating rooms are required. Our colleagues in intensive care units are also working simultaneously. We have anesthesia teams as well. They all work together as a coordinated team, and they have been performing living-donor transplants since 2019. In total, approximately 82 liver transplants have been carried out. As far as I recall, 76 of these were from cadaveric donors, while six were from living donors. However, in 2025, these procedures gained momentum, and 20 liver transplants were performed this year alone. In addition, we have carried out 596 kidney transplants at our university to date.

Today, we visited our patient who underwent the fourth living-donor liver transplant this year. Her condition is very good. As of this year, 1,396 people have donated organs under the guidance of our university. We attach great importance to this issue. However, we must remember that approximately 33,000 people in our country are waiting for an organ transplant. For them, this is the only hope—there are no alternatives. Therefore, organ donation by all of us is essential, and as I mentioned, living donations are particularly important.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özşay: “My dream was living-donor liver transplantation”

The surgeon who performed the transplant, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oğuzhan Özşay, stated:

“OMU Faculty of Medicine is the only center in the Black Sea Region where liver transplantation is performed. When I came here in 2018, I came pursuing a dream. I have many colleagues who supported this dream, starting with our Rector. We have a very large and dedicated team. That dream was living-donor liver transplantation. Being the only center in the Black Sea Region that performs liver transplantation—and at the same time, living-donor liver transplantation—and experiencing the pride of this today is very meaningful for me. We are at the initial stages of living-donor liver transplantation. Organ donation and cadaveric liver transplantation are extremely important for patients with end-stage liver failure. However, living-donor liver transplantation is also a necessity in our country, and I would like to share the good news that it will continue to increase.”

Ayşe Öztürk, who regained her life thanks to the liver donated by her daughter-in-law, said: “May God bless my daughter-in-law. May everything she touches turn to gold.”

Ayşe Öztürk’s son, Şenol Öztürk, explained the process as follows:

“The process began with my mother. I am also a healthcare worker, so we applied to the hospital where we work. Examinations were carried out, and the physicians detected a mass in the liver. After undergoing tomography, we came to OMU and consulted with Professors Oğuzhan and Kağan. They informed us that there was a mass in the liver and that a transplant was necessary. I said that I could donate my liver, but I was not compatible. My wife was compatible. After the necessary tests were completed, the surgery was performed, and now both of their health conditions are very good.”

Tuğba Öztürk, who donated part of her liver to her mother-in-law, said:

“Ultimately, this was a human life. I believe no one could remain indifferent to that. When you experience it personally, you truly realize how important organ transplantation is. That is why people should be more attentive and sensitive about this issue.”