Surgical Thoughts

I was born in Coimbra, Portugal, on the first of May 1980. I am graduated in medicine from the University of Coimbra in 2004. During my studies in Coimbra, I was not only dedicated to medical books, but I was also an active member of “Secção de Fado da Associação Académica de Coimbra” (Fado Section of Students Association) showing typical Coimbra music to the entire Portugal and Europe. 

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In 2006 I initiated the General Surgery residency in Centro Hospitalar de Coimbra (Covões), and I finished it in 2012 with the best national classification (19,8/20). 

During these six years, I completed two important trauma courses: ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) and DSTC (Definitive Surgical Trauma Care). Additionally, I was a trainer for several TEAM (Trauma Evaluation and Management) courses.

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Castelo Branco's hospital welcomed me in 2013 to work as a General Surgeon till 2014. Here I introduced a new technique to treat incompetent perforators, Subfascial Endoscopic Perforator Surgery (SEPS). Since Centro Hospitalar de Coimbra (Covões) is a leading hospital in Portugal to treat varicose veins with SEPS, I started performing it when I was a resident, and I have nowadays a great experience in this minimally invasive technique, with some international publications on this topic.  In 2014 I returned to Coimbra and worked as a general surgeon in Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra - Hospital dos Covões (CHUC-HG), performing advanced laparoscopic surgery. While working in the Surgery C Department (extinguished in 2019) of CHUC-HG I created and organized five editions of the first hands-on course of subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery, "SEPS Day". The sixth edition of "SEPSDay" was organized in Castelo Branco (Hospital Amato Lusitano). More editions will be there soon.

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In April 2014 I worked with Prof. Dr. Martin Walz in Essen, Germany. It was a very good opportunity to consolidate my knowledge in advanced laparoscopic surgery and to learn how to perform posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy. One year later I performed in Coimbra the first posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy.

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In the present day, I am working in several private hospitals in Portugal: Hospital CUF Coimbra, Hospital Luz Aveiro, Clinic Joaquim Mira in Batalha, and Clinic Atlântico in Alcobaça. I perform oncologic surgery, gastric surgery, colorectal surgery, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, abdominal wall surgery, endocrine surgery (adrenal by retroperitoneoscopic approach, thyroid, parathyroid), and advanced laparoscopic surgery (adrenal, colon, hernia, liver, gallbladder).

I have dedicated much of my professional time to leg ulcers, venous diseases, and venous surgery (SEPS). Diabetic foot and lower limb revascularization with prosthetic graft is another area I got good experience, which lead to a publication of a retrospective study about the use of Collatamp® in surgical site infection prophylaxis after femoropopliteal prosthetic bypass. I am the founder of the ancient Diabetic Foot Surgery consultation in CHUC-HG, aimed at studying diabetic foot and deciding which treatment is best suitable for each case (revascularization, amputation, dressings).

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I was an Assistant Professor for Vascular Surgery at the Medical School of the University of Coimbra. For the last two years, I was also an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the same medical school.  While working in Castelo Branco I was a trainer of medical students from the "Universidade da Beira Interior".

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Nowadays, I am a professor and mentor of medical students from the University of Coimbra performing fellowships in surgery at Hospital CUF Coimbra.

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I am the author of Almeida-Reis Hernia's first worldwide case report (published in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports). I am also the author of several book chapters about thromboembolism published in Portugal, and author of several research articles and case reports published in national and international journals.

I have been invited to give lectures about diabetic foot, varicose veins surgery, leg ulcer, and venous thromboembolism in several national and international meetings. 

Additionally, I have been a trainer in courses about diabetic foot and varicose veins surgery (SEPS). I am a member of the Editorial Board of the "International Journal of Surgery and Surgical Procedures", and I cooperate as a reviewer with several scientific journals:

"British Journal of Surgery"

"British Journal of Surgery Case Reports"

"International Journal of Surgery"

"International Journal of Surgery Case Reports"

"World Journal of Surgical Oncology"

"Revista Portuguesa de Cirurgia"

"Vasculitis"

"Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery"

"Austin Journal of Surgery"

"Pancreatic Disorders & Therapy"

"Nuclear Medicine & Radiation Therapy"

"Journal of Health Education Research & Development"

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I am a member of the Portuguese Society for Surgery, the Vascular Surgery Group of the Portuguese Society for Surgery, the Portuguese Society for Minimum Invasive Surgery, the International Union of Phlebology, and the International Union of Angiology. I am a member of the Administration Board of the Portuguese Society for Surgery.

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August 2021