Avlonitis, Vassilios S. - consultant cardiac surgeon

 

Consultant profiles

Vassilios S. Avlonitis

Contacts

Secretary tel: 020 7188 1057 / 1077
Cardiac Surgery email: gst-tr.cardiacsurgery@nhs.net

 

 

Clinical nurse specialist: Assumpta O’Sullivan
Clinical nurse specialist tel: 020 7188 7597
Clinical nurse specialist mob: 07918 338 909

Appointments coordinator tel:  020 7188 1044
Admissions coordinator tel: 020 7188 3894

Area of expertise: cardiac surgery

  • Biography

    • Graduated from the University of Athens Medical School in 1997.
    • Completed basic surgical training at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London and at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals.
    • Worked as a researcher in lung transplantation at the University of Newcastle and awarded a PhD in 2005.
    • Trained in cardiothoracic surgery in the Southwest of England Training Programme (Plymouth and Bristol).
    • Worked as a senior fellow at Mount Sinai Medical Centre, New York, USA, where he trained in mitral repair and aortic root surgery.
    • Employed as a consultant cardiac surgeon at the Bristol Heart Institute between 2012-2013.
    • Appointed as a consultant cardiac and mitral surgeon at St. Thomas’ Hospital in May 2013.

  • Education and training 

    • Mitral repair surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Centre, New York, USA (Dr David Adams - 2012).
    • Aortic root reconstruction, Mount Sinai Medical Centre, New York, USA (Dr Paul Stelzer - 2011).
    • Cardiac surgery training, Southwest Training Programme (Plymouth and Bristol), United Kingdom, 2007-2011.
    • Postgraduate certificate in medical education, University of Dundee, United Kingdom.
    • PhD, lung transplantation, University of Newcastle.
    • Basic surgical training, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals, United Kingdom.

  • Specialist interests

    • Mitral valve repair.

    • Heart valve surgery.

    • Surgery for atrial fibrillation.

    • Coronary artery bypass surgery.

    • Aortic root reconstruction.

    • Surgery for acute aortic dissection.

  • Research interests

    • Clinical trials.
    • Lung injury.

  • Publications

    Mr Avlonitis has published in the area of Lung Transplantation and Organ Donation, as well as in Cardiothoracic Surgery in general. Below is an example of his published work.

    • Avlonitis VS, Wigfield CH, Kirby JA, Dark JH. Treatment of the brain-dead lung donor with aprotinin and nitric oxide. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2010 Oct;29(10):1177-84.
    • Avlonitis VS, Wigfield CH, Golledge HDR, Kirby JA, Dark JH. Early hemodynamic injury during donor brain death determines the severity of primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation. Am J Transplant 2007; 7(1): 83-90.
    • Avlonitis VS, Wigfield CH, Kirby JA, Dark JH. The hemodynamic mechanisms of lung injury and systemic inflammatory response following brain death in the transplant donor. Am J Transplant 2005; 5(4): 684-693.
    • Avlonitis VS, Krause A, Luzzi L, Powell H, Phillips JA, Corris PA, Gould FK, Dark JH. Bacterial colonization of the donor lower airways is a predictor of poor outcome in lung transplantation. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2003; 24: 601-607.

  • Awards

    • Ronald Edwards Medal 2004, Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland.
    • Medawar medal nomination 2004, British Transplantation Society.
    • American Transplant Congress 2005 Travel Grant, British Transplantation Society.
    • Travelling Fellowship 2011-2012, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.