Pediatric Intensive Care

Brief History

Key milestones in the development of pediatric intensive care at Hacettepe University, from establishment to the present.

  • 1985
    Establishment
    The first-ever PICU of Türkiye was established within the Hacettepe University İhsan Doğramacı Children's Hospital with a six-bed capacity.
    • Prof. Namık Çevik cut the ribbon being the Director of the Children's Hospital.
    • A closed-model ICU with a 1:2 nurse-to-patient ratio was led by the chief residents under the operational directive of Dr. Faik Sarıalioğlu.
    • Academic output began on day one — a mumps myocarditis case was published in the international literature (Jpn Heart J 1989).
  • 1997
    Renovation
    Renovated as a 10-bed ICU with the addition of an isolation room.
    • Prof. Murat Tuncer executed the renovation as the Director of the Children's Hospital.
  • 2001
    Mission
    Pediatric intensive care ecole transference to Hacettepe University.
    • Benan Bayrakci was appointed at Johns Hopkins University for this purpose.
    • Prof. Gülsev Kale pursued the mission as the Chair of Pediatrics.
  • 2002
    Closed System ICU
    Transformation to Closed System ICU format.
    • Benan Bayrakci restructured the management of the unit being the Head of PICU.
    • Habilitated unit with invasive monitorization, mechanic ventilation and blood purification applications.
  • 2003
    Home Ventilation
    Home ventilation service initiated.
    • Benan Bayrakci started up the program being the pioneering service in Türkiye.
  • 2004
    CVVHDF
    CVVHDF Program initiated.
    • Benan Bayrakci started up the program as the Head of PICU.
  • 2006
    PALS
    PALS program started.
    • Assoc. Prof. Benan Bayrakci established the program as the Head of PICU.
  • 2007
    ECMO Center
    Established as the first ever ECMO program of Türkiye.
    • Assoc. Prof. Benan Bayrakci founded the center being the Head of PICU, following his training at Johns Hopkins University.
    • Prof. Tezer Kutluk ensured the facility as the Director of the Children's Hospital.
    • The ECMO cohort now approaches 400 patients with more than 600 ECMO days provided annually.
  • 2007
    National Congress & First AHA PALS Course
    The National Congress of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care was hosted at Hacettepe University with the participation of internationally recognized authorities.
    • The first American Heart Association (AHA)–certified Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Provider Course in Türkiye was organized during the same meeting.
    • This established an internationally accredited standard for pediatric resuscitation training in the country.
  • 2009
    Subspecialty Recognition
    Pediatric intensive care was accepted as a pediatric subspecialty field in Türkiye through the TUKMOS studies led by Dr. Bayrakcı.
  • 2010
    Division & Training Program
    The Hacettepe University Division of Pediatric Intensive Care was formally established.
    • Associate Prof. Benan Bayrakcı was appointed founding division chief.
    • Türkiye’s first Pediatric Intensive Care Subspecialty Training Program was initiated.
  • 2011
    PAYlaşım Meetings
    Annual “PAYlaşım” meetings were launched to disseminate knowledge and experience across the national PICU community.
  • 2013
    Modern Facility
    The unit relocated to a technologically advanced 16-bed facility on the 5th floor, 3rd block.
    • Clinical outcomes improved measurably; SMR declined to as low as 0.28 and has remained at this level.
    • The first Joint Pediatric Intensive Care Training Program in Türkiye began (2013–2019) with Ankara Children’s Hematology Oncology Hospital.
  • 2014
    First Fellow Graduate
    Dr. Selman Kesici became the first graduate of a pediatric intensive care fellowship program in Türkiye.
  • 2015
    Life Support Center (LSC)
    The Life Support Application and Research Center was established as a platform for research, simulation-based education, and novel therapeutic development.
    • Founded by Prof. Benan Bayrakcı.
  • 2018
    pCICU & Nursing Program
    Academic staff assumed responsibility for the 8-bed pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (pCICU).
    • Certified Pediatric Intensive Care Nursing Training Program launched with the Turkish Ministry of Health.
    • Dr. Selman Kesici returned as faculty to train future specialists.
  • 2024
    Life Support Trust Foundation
    The Life Support Trust Foundation was established to sustain scientific research and provide structured social support for patients and families.
  • 2025
    40th Anniversary Congress
    Four decades of pediatric intensive care were commemorated with the 40th Anniversary Congress, organized with the participation of leading international authorities.
    • The idea of documenting this historical trajectory as a guiding framework for newly established intensive care units was conceived during the meeting.
  • Currently
    Quaternary Referral Center
    The division functions as a national quaternary referral center with 23 intensive care beds (16 PICU + 8 pCICU), integrating ECMO, transplantation, intoxications, blood purification, and trauma care with education and research.
    • Coordinated by Prof. Benan Bayrakcı, Assoc. Prof. Selman Kesici, and Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Çeleğen.
    • ECMO cohort approaches 400 patients with more than 600 ECMO days annually.
Translational Work

Innovations & Protocols

Innovative therapeutic and translational approaches developed within the unit and introduced into the scientific literature:

Read the full editorial history, archive figures, and references on the About Us page.