Living like a ‘’Leuvenaar’’  

The ESAIC Exchange programme at UZ Leuven provided me with an experience that demonstrated both how long and how short two months can be. I work as an anesthesiologist in Istanbul, one of Türkiye’s largest hospitals. When I applied for this programme, I anticipated that it would offer me the experience of living in a different country and allow me to see how my profession is practised from different perspectives. However, I had no idea the time I would spend would be so rewarding.

Nearly every clinic at the hospital is staffed by students, observers, fellows, and specialists from around the world. So, while not knowing Dutch might initially seem like a disadvantage, realising you’re in such an international environment quickly puts an end to any communication anxiety.

UZ Leuven is a truly large and experienced transplant centre. In my own clinical practice, I have experience performing anaesthesia for kidney and liver transplants, but here I had the opportunity to gain experience with anaesthesia for lung transplants. Experienced supervisors in the field were very kind to me and answered all my questions. In addition, I had the opportunity to observe cases such as awake craniotomy, minimally invasive heart valve surgeries, hybrid/minimally invasive esophagectomies, abdominal fascia transplants and intrauterine fetal surgery. The teams are accustomed to handling these kinds of large-scale cases, and everything is protocol-based, so speaking the same language is a breeze.

Here, I observed the frequent use of the Swan-Ganz catheter for hemodynamic monitoring. While it’s normally the gold standard, we avoid it due to its complications and prefer less invasive alternative methods. Seeing this made me realise that when used appropriately and by experienced hands, the Swan Ganz catheter can also be used without any problems. This could make a difference in my daily practice.
They have a great automation system and record all perioperative details completely. Their attention to documentation is admirable. Another thing I admire is their communication with patients. The entire team does everything they can to make patients feel comfortable when they enter the operating room. Unless there’s an emergency, child patients are always accompanied by a parent. They are free of anxiety in the operating room, surrounded by their favourite toys and the safety of their parents’ presence.

Leuven, on the other hand, is a place I’d never been to before, but now I can describe it as my own fairytale city. It’s a true university city, and every corner of the city can be considered a campus. Being surrounded by university students makes you feel young. The city’s other residents have also embraced the students. For them, the return of students to the city and the start of the academic year is an event worth celebrating in the city squares at the end of September.
Bicycles or public transport are the most preferred means of transportation in the city. Traffic jams are practically non-existent.

The city boasts numerous parks and forested areas. You can ride or run for miles along the Dijle River. In fact, you’ll encounter people jogging at any time of day. Being active and staying healthy is very important to them.

There are also some very important landmarks worth seeing. The most important of these, in my opinion, is the Great Beguinage (Groot Begijnhof). Founded in 1232 as a place for religious women, its current buildings date back to the 17th century. It is a historic residential area that was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. It currently provides accommodation for students, PhD researchers, assistants, and professors at KU Leuven. I stayed here during my time at UZ Leuven. It’s impressive that such a historic building has been preserved so carefully and is still actively used in daily life. I think staying here was one of my greatest blessings.

During my time here, I tried to live like a “Leuvenaar.” I commuted to work by bicycle. I went jogging in the city’s beautiful parks, taking in the unique autumn colours. Arenberg Castle Park was a particular favourite. Because train transportation is so easy, I also visited Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels, and Rotterdam on weekends. I also enjoyed their Belgian fries, beer and waffles. I tried different flavours of Belgian cuisine. I joined the Ghent Urban Trail run and had fun exploring the city’s highlights.

So, this exchange program gave me the gift of gaining new perspectives on the hospital I work in, and also the opportunity to enjoy a period of time in a different city I love. I believe I left here happy, transformed and improved. I never imagined I could feel so at home in a city I’d never been to before, where I knew no one. I would like to thank everyone who made all of this a reality.

Author

• Hürü Ceren Gökduman, Anaesthesiologist, Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital