Kyrgyz Girl's Rare Lung Disease Treated Successfully in Turkey

Eight‑year‑old Akhmarcan Nursultanova, a girl from Kyrgyzstan, suffered from the extremely rare congenital condition Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation, which had already claimed the life of her older brother. In Antalya, Turkey, doctors at Akdeniz University Hospital performed an interventional procedure that closed the abnormal lung vessels using five occlusion devices inserted under angiographic guidance. The operation was led by Prof. Dr. Fırat Kardelen, with Prof. Dr. Filiz Ekici and Prof. Dr. İlker Aycan also involved.

After the surgery, Akhmarcan’s blood‑oxygen level rose from about 70 % to near‑normal, allowing her to run and play freely. The medical team highlighted how rare the disorder is—accounting for roughly 1 % of congenital heart defects—and emphasized the importance of timely treatment to prevent severe complications. The child expressed hopes of becoming a doctor when she grows up, and her family celebrated the successful outcome.