Mr Theo Velissaris
Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
DM, AFRCSEd, FRCS (C/Th)
I have been a Consultant Cardiac Surgeon since 2009, when I was appointed at Manchester Royal Infirmary. I subsequently joined the cardiac surgical unit of the University Hospital of Southampton (UHS) in 2013. I have performed over 1,000 cardiac operations as a consultant, undertaking all aspects of adult cardiac surgery. I have a special interest in assessing high risk and elderly patients and currently more than a quarter of my patients are over the age of 80. My personal operative results, and those of the Cardiac Unit at UHS, are available for public scrutiny at the Healthcare Commission website (www.heartsurgery.cqc.org.uk).
Since I joined UHS my personal operative outcomes, and those of the cardiac unit at UHS, have consistently been significantly better than expected when adjusted for surgical and operative risk. They compare very favourably with other cardiac units in the United Kingdom.
I studied medicine at the University of Patras in Greece and qualified in 1995. I undertook basic surgical training in Wales and Cardiothoracic surgical training initially at Royal Brompton Hospital, and subsequently in Southampton. Following a period of research I was appointed as a Specialist Registrar in cardiothoracic surgery in 2002 and qualified in 2008. I was awarded an MD thesis by the University of Southampton in 2007 for my work on the pathophysiology of beating heart and conventional coronary artery bypass grafting.
I am very actively involved in teaching and training. I am a member of the question writing group for the Cardiothoracic Intercollegiate examination and I teach senior cardiothoracic registrars at a national course before their final examination. I am an educational supervisor for cardiothoracic surgical trainees at UHS and I have active roles as an appraiser and as safety lead in cardiothoracic surgery.
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Mr Theo Velissaris at Spire include:
Cardiac surgery
- Heart valve replacement
- Coronary angioplasty
- Coronary artery bypass surgery (heart bypass)
Cardiothoracic surgery
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Important information about Covid-19 tests
COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Southampton Hospital.
Additional information
Clinical interests
Qualification and professional memberships
Ptychio latrikes / University of Patras, School of Medicine, Greece / 1995
MB BS equivalent
AFRCSEd / London / 1998
Associate Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
DM / University of Southampton, School of Medicine / 2007
Doctor of Medicine Postgraduate Degree
FRCS (C-Th) / Southampton / 2007
Intercollegiate Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons for Cardiothoracic Surgery
Professional memberships
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain & Ireland.
Research and publications
I maintain an active interest in supervising clinical research, with over 30 peer reviewed publications. I have presented my research work at national and international meetings and was awarded several prizes, including the Ronald Edwards medal by the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland and I was a finalist for the Young Investigator's award by the European association for cardiothoracic surgery.
Media Coverage
Heart patients in Southampton have best chance of survival
June 2013
Current NHS posts
Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, University Hospital of Southampton
Personal profile
I was born and educated in Greece and moved to the UK when I qualified as a doctor in 1995. I am married with a daughter and a son. In my spare time I enjoy taking my son to watch the Saints, playing the guitar and spending time with my family.
Contact information
| Website | http://www.southamptoncts.co.uk/ |
| Private secretary | Julia Walker |
| Private secretary telephone | 023 8091 4481 / 023 8091 4468 |
| Private secretary email | julia.walker@spirehealthcare.com |