Background

The history of the Neurosurgery Clinic begins shortly after the opening of the Papageorgiou Hospital. The first specialist neurosurgeons were recruited in 2000, in a consulting role, to support the Surgical Clinics and the Emergency Department. The two physicians were the current Coordinating Director of the Clinic Dr. Calliope Tsoleka (as Registrar A) and Mr. George Drositis (as Registrar B).

The official opening of the Neurosurgery Clinic was on 02.09.2002 when Dr. med. Ilias Kampelis, former Director of the Neurosurgery Clinic of the Hospital of Kavala and former Professor of the University of Bonn was appointed. Subsequently and during the following years, the medical staff was also appointed. The Director of the clinic Mr. Dr. med. Elias Kambelis has been a member, vice-president and chairman of the scientific council since 2002, while in the period 2006-2009 he also performed the duties of the unpaid advisor to the Minister of Macedonia - Thrace in health matters. Mr. Kampelis left the hospital and has been in private practice since 01.11.2012.

The head of the nursing staff of the clinic, Mr. Alexandros Dallas, contributed greatly with his associates in setting up and smooth running of the clinic. During the period February 2009 - February 2011 the head of the nursing staff of the Neurosurgery Clinic was Mrs. Vasiliki Yortsiou

Today

The clinic is staffed by 6 specialist neurosurgeons who cover the widest range of operations of the modern neurosurgical specialty. The Coordinating Director is Dr. Kalliopi Tsoleka. The medical staff also includes a Director of Neurosurgery and four Registrar A physicians. 

The Department of Neurosurgery of Papageorgiou General Hospital has been certified for the procedure of granting the Medical Specialty of Neurosurgery (no. Y7a/GP/oik/135706/14-12-05 decision, published in issue 1872 of the Government Gazette/30-12-05). 3 Neurosurgery residents are currently being trained and employed for one (1) year.

Clinical work

The Neurosurgery Clinic is an integrated part of the NHS and takes equal part in the on duty services of the hospitals of Thessaloniki. It is on duty every four days, following the general schedule that stands for the General Hospital "Papageorgiou". 
The clinic has 30 inpatient beds distributed in 2 single, 2 double and 6 quadruple rooms with separate sanitary facilities. 2 quadruple rooms are equipped with the necessary infrastructure and constantly receive patients requiring increased care (monitor - oxygen supply - serum - suction systems). In this way, the ICU is decongested and patients are treated with the utmost care.
In our clinic we treat patients from the whole spectrum of neurosurgical diseases conservatively and surgically including complete CNS and Spinal Traumatology, Central Nervous System tumors, Hemorrhagic Vascular Stroke, Spinal Diseases, Peripheral Nerve Injuries, surgical treatment of spasticity with pump (among others). In addition, we have the knowledge and infrastructure to treat surgically brachial plexus injuries as one of the few clinics nationwide.
The clinic has a modern Neurosurgical Microscope, C-arm, Endoscope, but also has the capability, the know-how and the equipment to perform neuromonitoring procedures (mapping and real-time), Stereotactic Biopsies (with frame and neuroplanning) and neuroplanning procedures.
The clinic conducts a daily Morning Regular Outpatient Clinic of General Neurosurgery and three times a week the clinic's doctors conduct an Afternoon Outpatient Clinic. 

Educational work

The Department of Neurosurgery of Papageorgiou General Hospital has been certified for the procedure of granting the Medical Specialty of Neurosurgery (no. Y7a/GP/oik/135706/14-12-05 decision, published in issue 1872 of the Government Gazette/30-12-05).

Currently, 3 Neurosurgery residents are being trained and employed for one (1) year, while actions are being taken for the certification of the Full Neurosurgery Specialty.

The Resident Doctors are fully active in the whole range of the Clinic's interventions, are responsible for the examination, history and monitoring of the patients in each ward, are on duty and cover both the ICU on general duty days and the needs of the clinic and the hospital on in-house duty days, under the supervision and control of the Specialist Doctors.

The Department of Neurosurgery prepares and conducts an annual educational program of neurosurgery courses for residents, including topics of interest to related specialties.