Kapralou Athena, MD,PhD

Master of Science (MSc) — Advanced Laparoendoscopic and Robotic Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery (in progress)
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Track: New Technologies in Gastrointestinal Surgery – Minimally Invasive Techniques – Bariatric Surgery
Expected completion: 31 March 2026

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Surgery
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Doctoral research conducted at the Intensive Care Unit,
First Department of Propaedeutic Surgery

Doctor of Medicine (MD)
University of Patras, Greece

General Surgery Residency
First Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippokration General Hospital
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Resident Physician (Surgical Intensive Care Unit – Trauma)
First Department of Propaedeutic Surgery,
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece

Three-year structured clinical training in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, with focus on perioperative critical care, trauma management, and postoperative surgical patients.
Active involvement in multidisciplinary ICU care, clinical decision-making, and research-oriented clinical practice.

Visiting Physician, Bariatric Surgery
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Observer Physician, Center for Diabetes Surgery
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA

Advanced Training in Gastric Bypass and Truncal Vagotomy (Experimental Model)
Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA)
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases

Scientific Research Associate
Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Unit
First Department of Propaedeutic Surgery Hippokration General Hospital
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Surgeon
Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Unit
First Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippokration General Hospital

Collaborating General Surgeon
Private hospital and emergency surgical services in Athens, Greece
Clinical focus on surgical management of diabetic foot disease

Neurohormonal and gut–brain mechanisms in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Surgical modulation of metabolic disease

Truncal vagotomy and biliopancreatic signaling

Metabolic and bariatric surgery

Translational and hypothesis-driven clinical research

Principal Clinical Investigator-VagusSx Clinical Trial
Randomized, triple-blind clinical study evaluating the effect of truncal vagotomy combined with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Responsible for study conception, protocol development, interdisciplinary coordination, and clinical implementation.
ClinicalTrials.gov registration approved.

Principal investigator in experimental research project conducted at the Hellenic Pasteur Institute.
Development and implementation of an experimental duodenal–jejunal bypass model investigating cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulation before and after surgical intervention.
Responsible for study conception, surgical design, and operative execution of the experimental model.
Experimental study and data analysis currently ongoing.

Kapralou AN, Yapijakis C, Chrousos GP.
The duodenum-centered neurohormonal hypothesis of type 2 diabetes: A mechanistic review and therapeutic perspective.
Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 2025.

Kapralou AN, Chrousos GP.
Metabolic effects of truncal vagotomy when combined with bariatric-metabolic surgery.
Metabolism, 2022.

Kapralou AN, Swain JM, Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Bramis J.
Gastrointestinal weight loss surgery for the management of type 2 diabetes: A view from Greece.
Hellenic Journal of Surgery, 2016.

Linos D, Tsirlis T, Kapralou A, Kiriakopoulos A, Tsakayannis D, Papaioannou D.
Adrenal ganglioneuromas: Incidentalomas with misleading clinical and imaging features.
Surgery, 2011.

Katsaragakis S, Kapralou A, Drimousis P, Markogiannakis H, et al.
Prophylactic preoperative levosimendan administration in heart failure patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery.
Hellenic Journal of Cardiology, 2009.

Markogiannakis H, Kapralou A, Toufekzian L, Theodorou D, Katsaragakis S.
Perioperative cardiac failure: the importance of cardiac failure management.
Southern Medical Journal, 2008.

Katsaragakis S, Kapralou A, Markogiannakis H, Kofinas G, et al.
Preoperative levosimendan in heart failure patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.
Netherlands Journal of Medicine, 2008.

Katsaragakis S, Theodorou D, Drimousis P, Stamou KM, Koutras A, Kapralou A, Bramis J.
A simplified technique for translaryngeal tracheostomy (TLT): A preliminary report.
World Journal of Surgery, 2007.

Katsaragakis S, Kapralou A, Theodorou D, Markogiannakis H, et al. Refractory septic shock: efficacy and safety of very high doses of norepinephrine. Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, 2006.

Theodorou D, Kapralou A, Larentzakis A, Markogiannakis H, Toutouzas KG, Kofinas G, Theodoraki E, Katsaragakis S.
Prophylactic preoperative levosimendan administration in heart failure patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery.
Intensive Care Medicine, 2008; 34 (Suppl 1): S87.

Drimousis P, Markogiannakis H, Theodorou D, Toutouzas KG, Stamou KM, Koutras A, Kapralou A, Katsaragakis S.
Modifications of the translaryngeal tracheostomy technique.
International Journal of Disaster Medicine, 2006; 4(1–2): O-2277.

Kapralou A, Larentzakis A, Theodorou D, Toutouzas K, Drimousis P, Kofinas G, Theodoraki HM, Katsaragakis S.
Levosimendan optimizes cardiac performance in general surgery patients with chronic heart failure.
Intensive Care Medicine, 2006; 32 (Suppl 1): S266.

Drimousis PG, Toutouzas K, Theodorou D, Stamou KM, Kapralou A, Katsaragakis S.
Monitoring of tissue oxygenation in septic patients using microdialysis.
Intensive Care Medicine, 2006; 32 (Suppl 1): S254.

Theodoraki HM, Larentzakis A, Theodorou D, Toutouzas KG, Drimousis P, Markogiannakis H, Kapralou A, Katsaragakis S.
Hypernatremia in the surgical ICU.
Intensive Care Medicine, 2006; 32 (Suppl 1): S63.

Markogiannakis C, Toutouzas KG, Katergiannakis V, Lagoudianakis E, Kapralou A, Antonakis PT, Kekis P, Manouras A.
Incidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
International Congress Abstract, 2006.

Toutouzas KG, Kapralou A, Antonakis PT, Markogiannakis H, Lagoudianakis E, Konstantoulakis M, Papadima A, Manouras A.
Occult thyroid carcinoma: Incidence, diagnosis and treatment.
International Congress Abstract, 2006.

Drimousis P, Stamou K, Koutras A, Cristoloveanou C, Archodovassilis F, Kapralou A, Theodorou D, Katsaragakis S.
Intraoperative monitoring of pHi as a predictor of successful extubation after major abdominal surgery.
Critical Care, 2005; 9 (Suppl 1): P123.

Archodovassilis F, Tsekouras D, Drimousis E, Lagoudiannakis E, Markogiannakis C, Koutras A, Kapralou A, Stamou S, Theodorou D, Katsaragakis S, Bramis J.
Retroperitoneal metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of the testes: Resection of a large residual mass after chemotherapy.
Annals of Gastroenterology, 2005; 18(2): 263.

Archodovassilis F, Lagoudiannakis E, Markogiannakis C, Kapralou A, Drimousis D, Koutras A, Stamou K, Theodorou D, Katsaragakis S, Bramis.
Alterations in nutritional status of gastrointestinal cancer patients: A prospective study of 148 patients.
Annals of Gastroenterology, 2005; 18(2): 237.

Giannopoulos P., Antonakis P., Lagoudiannakis E., Kapralou A., Papadima A., KatergiannakisV., Manouras A. Primary splenic angiosarcoma presenting with spontaneous splenic rupture.
Annals of Gastroenterology 2005;18(2): 260.

Genetzkis M, Lagoudiannakis E, Tsekouras D, Archodovassilis F, Giannopoulos P, Filipakis GM, Kapralou A, Manouras A.
Malignant gastrointestinal melanomas of unknown origin: Should they be considered primary?
Annals of Gastroenterology, 2005; 18(2): 256.

Kapralou A, Theodorou D, Drimousis D, Archodovassilis F, Stamou K, Mpantias C, Karantzikos G, Katsaragakis S.
Early and aggressive use of high-dose norepinephrine in septic shock.
Critical Care, 2004; 8 (Suppl 1): P180.

Drimousis D, Cristoloveanou C, Stamou KM, Archodovasilis F, Kapralou A, Kostopoulou F, Theodorou D, Georgiou L, Katsaragakis S.
Intraoperative monitoring of pHi and arterial lactate during major abdominal surgery.
European Journal of Trauma, 2004; Suppl 1: 286.

Cristoloveanou C, Drimousis D, Stamou KM, Archodovasilis F, Kapralou A, Kostopoulou F, Theodorou D, Georgiou L, Katsaragakis S.
Intraoperative monitoring of pHi as a predictor of successful extubation in major abdominal surgery.
European Journal of Trauma, 2004; Suppl 1: 287.

Stamou KM, Drimousis D, Archodovasilis F, Kapralou A, Bantias C, Stergiopoulos S, Katsaragakis S.
Differential ventilation in the management of asymmetrical chest trauma.
European Journal of Trauma, 2004; Suppl 1: 600.

Karantzikos G, Kononas T, Stamou KM, Kapralou A, Ntaska E, Katsaragakis S.
Leg necrosis as a complication of pneumatic compression anti-embolic stockings: A case report.
European Journal of Trauma, 2004; Suppl 1: P108.

Archodovasilis F, Economou V, Stamou KM, Liacos C, Drimousis P, Kapralou A, Koutras A, Theodorou D, Konstandoulakis MM, Katsaragakis S.
Prospective study of the effect of preoperative parenteral nutrition on cancer patients’ immune system: The role of apoptosis as an early marker of immune changes.
European Journal of Trauma, 2004.

Pararas B, Panoussopoulos D, Karatzikos G, Kapralou A, Pararas N, Papadimitriou K.
Cystadenoma of the pancreas.
Pancreatology, 2001; 1: 371–396.

Bourantas NE, Koutras AS, Kapralou A, Pappas K.
Basilic vein transposition arteriovenous fistula as a secondary permanent vascular access for hemodialysis.
5th International Congress of the Vascular Access Society, 2006.

Bourantas NE, Kapralou A, Koutras A.
Brachial artery aneurysm following closure of a Brescia–Cimino fistula.
5th International Congress of the Vascular Access Society, 2006.

Theodorou D, Kapralou A, Larentzakis A, Markogiannakis H, Toutouzas KG, Kofinas G, Theodoraki E, Katsaragakis S.
Prophylactic preoperative levosimendan administration in heart failure patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery.
21st ESICM Annual Congress, Lisbon, Portugal, 2008.

Theodorou D, Kapralou A, Larentzakis A, Markogiannakis H, Toutouzas KG, Kofinas G, Theodoraki E, Katsaragakis S.
Prophylactic preoperative levosimendan administration in heart failure patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery.
21st ESICM Annual Congress, Lisbon, Portugal, 2008.

Markogiannakis H, Toutouzas K, Tzertzemelis D, Giannopoulos P, Drimousis P, Kapralou A, Larentzakis A, Theodoraki M, Theodorou D, Katsaragakis S, Xanthaki A.
Multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in a surgical intensive care unit.
7th European Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (EATES), Malmö, Sweden, 2006.

Markogiannakis H, Toutouzas K, Tzertzemelis D, Giannopoulos P, Drimousis P, Kapralou A, Larentzakis A, Theodoraki M, Theodorou D, Katsaragakis S, Xanthaki A.
Mortality of Acinetobacter baumannii infections in a surgical intensive care unit.
19th European Congress of Surgical Infections, Athens, Greece, 2006.

Drimousis PG, Toutouzas K, Theodorou D, Stamou KM, Kapralou A, Katsaragakis S.
Monitoring of tissue oxygenation in septic patients using microdialysis.
19th European Congress of Surgical Infections, Athens, Greece, 2006.

Theodoraki HM, Larentzakis A, Theodorou D, Toutouzas KG, Drimousis P, Markogiannakis H, Kapralou A, Katsaragakis S.
Hypernatremia in the surgical intensive care unit.
European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Annual Congress, 2006

Kapralou A, Larentzakis A, Theodorou D, Toutouzas KG, Drimousis P, Kofinas G, Theodoraki HM, Katsaragakis S.
Levosimendan optimizes cardiac performance in general surgery patients with chronic heart failure.
European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Annual Congress, 2006

Toutouzas KG, Kapralou A, Antonakis PT, Markogiannakis H, Lagoudianakis E, Konstantoulakis M, Papadima A, Manouras A.
Occult thyroid carcinoma: incidence, diagnosis and treatment.
2nd Biennial Congress of the European Society of Endocrine Surgeons.

Markogiannakis C, Toutouzas KG, Katergiannakis V, Lagoudianakis E, Kapralou A, Antonakis PT, Kekis P, Manouras A.
Incidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
2nd Biennial Congress of the European Society of Endocrine Surgeons

Drimousis P, Stamou K, Koutras A, Cristoloveanou C, Archodovassilis F, Kapralou A, Theodorou D, Katsaragakis S.
Intraoperative monitoring of pHi as a predictor of successful extubation after major abdominal surgery.
25th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Brussels, Belgium, 2005.

Archodovassilis F, Tsekouras D, Drimousis E, Lagoudiannakis E, Markogiannakis C, Koutras A, Kapralou A, Stamou S, Theodorou D, Katsaragakis S, Bramis J.
Retroperitoneal metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of the testes.
2nd International Congress on Gastrointestinal Oncology, Greece, 2005

Archodovassilis F, Lagoudiannakis E, Markogiannakis C, Kapralou A, Drimousis D, Koutras A, Stamou K, Theodorou D, Katsaragakis S, Bramis J.
Alterations in nutritional status of gastrointestinal cancer patients.
2nd International Congress on Gastrointestinal Oncology, Greece, 2005.

Giannopoulos P, Antonakis P, Lagoudiannakis E, Kapralou A, Papadima A, Katergiannakis V, Manouras A.
Primary splenic angiosarcoma presenting with spontaneous splenic rupture.
2nd International Congress on Gastrointestinal Oncology, Greece, 2005.

Genetzkis M, Lagoudiannakis E, Tsekouras D, Archodovassilis F, Giannopoulos P, Filipakis GM, Kapralou A, Manouras A.
Malignant gastrointestinal melanomas of unknown origin.
2nd International Congress on Gastrointestinal Oncology, Greece, 2005.

Kapralou A, Theodorou D, Drimousis D, Archodovassilis F, Stamou K, Mpantias C, Karantzikos G, Katsaragakis S.
Early and aggressive use of high-dose norepinephrine in septic shock.
24th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Belgium, 2004.

Drimousis D, Cristoloveanou C, Stamou KM, Archodovasilis F, Kapralou A, Kostopoulou F, Theodorou D, Georgiou L, Katsaragakis S.
Intraoperative monitoring of pHi and arterial lactate during major abdominal surgery.
6th European Trauma Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, 2004.

Cristoloveanou C, Drimousis D, Stamou KM, Archodovasilis F, Kapralou A, Kostopoulou F, Theodorou D, Georgiou L, Katsaragakis S.
Intraoperative monitoring of pHi as a predictor of successful extubation in major abdominal surgery.
6th European Trauma Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, 2004

Stamou KM, Drimousis D, Archodovasilis F, Kapralou A, Bantias C, Stergiopoulos S, Katsaragakis S.
Ventilatory strategies in the management of asymmetrical chest trauma.
6th European Trauma Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, 2004.

Karantzikos G, Kononas T, Stamou KM, Kapralou A, Ntaska E, Katsaragakis S.
Leg necrosis as a complication of pneumatic compression anti-embolic stockings.
European Trauma Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, 2004.

Archodovassilis F, Economou V, Stamou KM, Liacos C, Drimousis P, Kapralou A, Koutras A, Theodorou D, Konstandoulakis MM, Katsaragakis S.
Effect of preoperative parenteral nutrition on cancer patients’ immune system.
ESPEN Congress of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition.

Archodovassilis F, Economou V, Stamou KM, Liacos C, Drimousis P, Kapralou A, Koutras A, Theodorou D, Konstandoulakis MM, Katsaragakis S.
Apoptosis as an early marker of immune changes in cancer patients.
European Trauma Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, 2004.

Pararas B, Panoussopoulos D, Karatzikos G, Kapralou A, Pararas N, Papadimitriou K.
Cystadenoma of the pancreas.
Meeting of Mediterranean Societies of Pancreatology, Greece, 2001

Manouras A, Toutouzas KG, Kapralou A, Stamou KM, Lagoudianakis M, Konstantoulakis M, Katergiannakis V, Apostolidis N.
Coexistence of hyperparathyroidism and non-medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Hellenic Journal of Surgery, 2003; 75(5): 354–358.

Manouras A, Toutouzas KG, Kapralou A, Kekis P, Bousiotou A, Stamou KM, Katergiannakis V, Apostolidis N.
Incidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Hellenic Journal of Surgery, 2003; 75(6): 415–419.

Peer-reviewed conference abstracts published in Greek scientific journals and conference proceedings (n = 23, 2001–2006). These publications include abstracts published in Hellenic Journal of Surgery (Panhellenic Congress of Surgery / International Surgical Forum), ΤΡΑΥΜΑ – Emergency Surgery, Intensive Care & Infections, and Hellenic Laparoendoscopic Surgery.

Selected examples (original titles in Greek):

Λαρεντζάκης Α. κ.ά., Η επίδραση της ταχείας απομάκρυνσης υγρών μέσω CVVHDF…, ΤΡΑΥΜΑ, 2006.

Μανουράς Α. κ.ά., Λανθάνον καρκίνωμα του θυρεοειδούς αδένα…, Hellenic Journal of Surgery, 2004.

Δρυμούσης Π. κ.ά., Διεγχειρητική παρακολούθηση του γαστρικού pHi…, Hellenic Journal of Surgery, 2004.

Λέανδρος Ε. κ.ά., Η σημασία της ερευνητικής λαπαροσκόπησης…, Hellenic Laparoendoscopic Surgery, 2001.

Oral and poster presentations delivered at Greek scientific conferences (n = 46, 2001–2008), including the Panhellenic Congress of Surgery / International Surgical Forum, meetings of the Hellenic Society of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, the Meeting of Mediterranean Societies of Pancreatology, and other national scientific meetings.

Selected presentations (original titles in Greek):

Ρήγα Μ κ.ά. Διεγχειρητική επίδραση της προφυλακτικής χορήγησης Levosimendan… 26ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Χειρουργικής – Διεθνές Χειρουργικό Forum, Αθήνα, 2008.

Καπράλου Α κ.ά. Οι επιδράσεις της προφυλακτικής χορήγησης του Levosimendan… 26ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Χειρουργικής – Διεθνές Χειρουργικό Forum, Αθήνα, 2008.

Καπράλου Α κ.ά. Προφυλακτική χρήση levosimendan… Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο & International Symposium Ελληνικού Κολλεγίου Χειρουργών, 2006.

Μαρκογιαννάκης Χ κ.ά. Αντιμετώπιση της οξείας χολοκυστίτιδας. 3ο Συνέδριο Ελληνικής Εταιρείας Τραύματος και Επείγουσας Χειρουργικής, 2005.

Μαρκογιαννάκης Χ κ.ά. Ο ρόλος της λαπαροσκόπησης στην οξεία κοιλία. 3ο Συνέδριο Ελληνικής Εταιρείας Τραύματος και Επείγουσας Χειρουργικής, 2005.

Καπράλου Α κ.ά. Χορήγηση υψηλών δόσεων νοραδρεναλίνης ως θεραπευτικός χειρισμός στο σηπτικό shock. Ημέρες Ανανήψεως / Τραύμα–Τροχαία Ατυχήματα, 2004.

Λέανδρος Ε κ.ά. Η σημασία της ερευνητικής λαπαροσκόπησης… 5ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Λαπαροενδοσκοπικής Χειρουργικής, 2001.

Member, European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES)
Member, Hellenic Surgical Society
Member, Hellenic Society of Endocrine Surgery
Member, Hellenic Society of Trauma and Emergency Surgery