The Thoracic Surgery and Oncology Department of “Theagenio” is the only pure thoracic surgery – oncology center in the whole of Northern Greece with more than 700 major thoracic surgery procedures per year.
About the department
The Thoracic Surgery – Oncology Clinic officially started its operation in 1985 in the framework of the National Health System, although it pre-existed within the framework of the Hospital’s operation as Theagenio Medical Institute since 1978. The Department’s previous directors were Mr. k.k. Gounaris (1985-1993) and Tsilikas (1993-2012). Since 2013 the Director has been Mr. Nikolaos G. Barbetakis.
The department performs all operations related to the lung, mediastinum, chest wall, esophagus, trachea, pleura, and diaphragm.
Particular emphasis is placed on minimally invasive Thoracic Surgery with an increasing number of thoracoscopic procedures (VATS) being performed since 2006.
From 2021, the first robotically assisted thoracoscopic procedures using a specialized robotic arm started to be performed.
At the same time, the clinic covers the thoracic surgical needs of neighboring hospitals in Thessaloniki, while due to its specialization, it also receives a large number of cases from the rest of Macedonia, Thessaly, Epirus, Thrace, the Ionian, and northeastern Aegean islands, as well as from neighboring Balkan countries.
The type of surgical services offered by the clinic include:
- The full range of open thoracic surgery procedures (Thoracotomies – Sternotomies)
- Minimally invasive – Thoracoscopic – Robot-assisted surgery (VATS)
- Lobectomy
- Segmentectomy
- Wedge resection
- Lung – pleural biopsies
- Aspiration and pleurodesis with local chemotherapy – hyperthermia
- Bronchoscopy with rigid bronchoscope
- Invasive bronchoscopy – Airway opening
- Surgical tracheotomy
- Minor procedures
- Placement of permanent central venous access catheters for chemotherapy (port-a-cath)
- Soft tissue biopsy of cervicothoracic tissues
- Drainage of Bulau pleural effusions in combination with chemical pleurodesis where indicated
The department has 18 beds on the 3rd floor of the “THEAGENIO” Hospital for the hospitalization of patients as well as an area suitably equipped for respiratory physiotherapy-motor therapy.
The Thoracic Surgery – Oncology Department of the “THEAGENIO” Hospital has three (3) positions for medical residents for their training in General Thoracic Surgery.
The nursing staff of the department, having the required knowledge, experience, and skills, is specialized in the care and management of thoracic surgery patients.
Medical staff
Nikolaos Barbetakis
Director - MD, Ph.D., PostDoc.Dipl., FEBTS
Dimitrios Paliouras
Attending A' - MD, MSc, MHA, PhD, PostDoc.Dipl.
Achilleas Lazopoulos
Supervisor B' - MD, MSc
Apostolos St. Gogakos
Assistant Medical Doctor - MD, PhD
Thomas Rallis
Assistant Physician - MD, MSc
Awards
The Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology of the "THEAGENEIO" is since 2013 a specialized and certified international training center in Thoracoscopic Surgery (Center of Excellence), having successfully organized 2 training seminars in Thoracoscopic Surgery with international participation.
It is also the only center for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma with combined treatment of surgery and regional chemotherapy - hyperthermia.
In 2017 the clinic won the first prize for the best presentation of thoracoscopic surgery in an international competition held in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Special Units
Postoperative Monitoring Unit for Thoracic Surgery Patients.
The Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology of the “THEAGENIO” Hospital has 4 beds which are used as a Postoperative Monitoring Unit for Thoracic Surgery Patients.
Activities
- Organization of the annual conference on Thoracic Surgical Oncology
- Participation in all scientific events of the Oncology Clinics of the Hospital
- Organization of Educational seminars with international participation
- Continuous participation in national and international scientific conferences
- Compilation and presentation of scientific papers based on the daily and long-term experience of the clinic
- Publication of scientific articles in Greek and internationally recognized medical publications of wide circulation
- Participation in international multicenter studies
- Preparation of Doctoral Dissertations and Postgraduate programs in collaboration with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
- In cooperation with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, planning for the application of early diagnosis of lung cancer based on artificial intelligence (A.I.) principles
Operational Programme
The Thoracic Surgery Oncology Department of the “THEAGENIO” Hospital has 5 operating rooms per week for the performance of major thoracic surgery and 1 operating room per week for the performance of minor thoracic surgery.
The Thoracic Surgery Oncology Department of the “THEAGENIO” Hospital is on call daily, within the framework of the oncology on-call service of the hospital, covering the needs and emergencies of three Pathology – Oncology Clinics, the Pulmonary Oncology Clinic, and other departments of the hospital. N.TH. “THEAGENEIO”, but also the needs for thoracic surgical evaluations and other hospitals in Northern Greece.
The Regular Outpatient Clinics of the Clinic are open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 – 14:00 by appointment.
The Evening Outpatient Clinics are open every Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 – 20:00 by appointment.