Dr Christos Apostolou

• MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery)- University of Cape Town 1996
• Surgical Training and Qualified General Surgeon – South Africa 2003
• Holds Fellowships in
• Tertiary Trauma
• Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery
• Digestive surgery

• Visiting Consultant at Groote Schuur Hospital
• Honorary Lecturer in Surgery
• Established a successful private practice in Cape Town.
• Worked as a fellow in Upper GI Surgery in the busy South Western Sydney Area Health Service.
• Awarded Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) – 2012

• Expertise in the treatment of hepatopancreaticobiliary and oesophagogastric malignancies.
• Well versed in Emergency Surgery and minor aspects of General Surgery.
• Trained in laparoscopic and open surgery as well as diagnostic and interventional endoscopy.
• Pursued Masters in the treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts and interested in laparoscopic surgical training.

• Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
  The University of Cape Town 1996
• FCS (SA) completed October 2003: College of S. African Surgeons
• Master of Medicine in Surgery (MMed Surg.)
  The University of Cape Town 2006
• Certificate of Surgical Gastroenterology (Cert. Gastro SA Surg.) completed October
  2006: College of S. African Surgeons
• FRACS awarded August 2012, following exceptional performance assessment by
  Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Currently holds appointments at

• Sydney Adventist Hospital
• Norwest Private Hospital
• Macquarie University Hospital
• Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital

• Conjoint Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales
• Clinical Lecturer at Macquarie University and the Australian School of Advanced Medicine

Diseases of the biliary tree and gallbladder, obstructive jaundice, hepatic surgery, oesophageal reflux and dysphagia, and interventional endoscopy

• Laparoscopic and open upper gastrointestinal surgery (incl. oncological)
• Gallbladder and anti reflux surgery
• Endoscopic and open hernia surgery
• Upper and lower endoscopy and intervention
• Liver and pancreatic surgery
• Stomach and oesophageal pathology
• All general surgical emergencies and trauma

Dr Apostolou’s core outcome is to be approachable and provide best possible results for his patients through dedication and expertise, whilst ensuring patient satisfaction through continued communication and feedback.

Undergraduate

• Bachelor of Medicine – MBChB – 1996
• Surgical training Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town – completed 2003

Postgraduate

• Fellow of the College of Surgeons of South Africa FCS (SA) – 2003
• Master of Medicine in Surgery, University of Cape Town MMed (Surg) – 2006
• Certificate in Surgical Gastroenterology, Colleges of Medicine of S. Africa – 2006
• FRACS, Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons – 2012

Undergraduate

• Jeffery and Partners Travelling Fellowship
• SA Society of Endoscopic Surgeons Junior Investigator Award
• JH LOUW PRIZE: Best student in final MBChB University of Cape Town
• SURGERY CLASS MEDAL (Best surgical candidate)
• University of Cape Town Entrance Merit Scholarship

Postgraduate

• Fellowship in HPB Surgery under mentorship of Profs Bornman and Krige – 2005 & 2006
• Fellow, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, Upper GI surgery – 2011
• Fellow, Liverpool Hospital, Upper GI surgery – 2012:
• AHPRA, Registration as Specialist in General Surgery – 2012
• VMO in Upper GI Surgery, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital – 2013
• Accredited practitioner in Surgery, Macquarie University Hospital – 2013
• Conjoint Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales
• Clinical Lecturer, Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University
• Accredited Practitioner Sydney Adventist and Norwest Private Hospitals

Awards

• Winner of Patient Voice Awards - 2023

• Fellow of the Australasian College of Surgeons
• Fellow of the South African College of Surgeons
• ANZHPBA Australia and New Zealand Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary Association
• ANZGOSA Australia & New Zealand Gastro Oesophageal Surgery Association
• HPBASA South African Hepatobiliary Association
• MDA – Indemnity cover: General Surgeon
• AMA – Australian Medical Association Membership
• Member of General Surgical Registrar representative committee from 2000-2003.
• Chairperson of General Surgical Registrar committee (2002-2003)
• Examiner in the NSW Regional Subcommittee of the Board in General Surgery Advanced Surgery Course for final Fellowship candidates: Bankstown (26 April 2012, 2 May 2013) and Liverpool Hospitals (4 May 2012).

• GESA: Accredited for upper and lower GI endoscopy (2012)
• AHPRA/Medical Board of Australia: MED0001617853 (2011)
• Health Profession Council of South Africa: MP 0475564 (1997)
• Independent Practice (Specialist) Surgery (2004, HPCSA)
• Sub specialty: Gastroenterology-Surgical (2007, HPCSA)

Continuing Professional Development

Congresses & Presentations

• ANZHPBA Annual meeting, Manly NSW 9-10 August 2013*
• ANZHPBA Annual meeting, Coolum QLD 4-7 November 2012*
• APHPBA Congress, 28-30 September 2011, Melbourne, Australia
• RACS Annual Scientific Congress, 4-7 May 2010, Perth, Australia
• 8th European Hepatopancreatobiliary Association meeting, Athens, 18-20 June 2009
• 7th International Hepatopancreatobiliary Congress, Edinburgh, 3-7 September 2006
• Invited to speak to colleagues as part of continuing professional education activities, various forums including Department of Surgery of University of Cape Town refresher course, hospital meetings and other functions
• Faculty member at Basic Surgical Skills course held at the University of Cape Town, Dept. of Surgery on 6-8 July 2004 and 22-24 February 2005

Skills and Laboratory workshops

• 2013 Cadaveric course: Component separation and abdominal wall reconstruction, Royal North Shore Hospital Sydney (26 Sep)
• 2011 Postgraduate course: Liver Surgery, APHPBA Congress, Melbourne
• 2007 Laparoscopic Master class in HPB Surgery, UCT/Groote Schuur Dept. of Surgery
• 2006 Advanced Course in Laparoscopic Digestive Surgery: European Institute of Telesurgery, Strasbourg France.
• 2006 Tissuelink Animal Lab, Groote Schuur Hospital 16 February 2006
• 2001 Laparoscopic Skills Course (RCS UK), Cape Town
• 1999 Intercollegiate (Royal Colleges of UK) Basic Surgical Skills Course, Univ. of Cape Town. 1998 Advanced Cardiac Life Support Course, ACLS, Cape Town
• 1997 Advanced Trauma Life Support Course, ATLS, Cape Town

• VMO in Upper GI Surgery, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital
• Accredited practitioner in Surgery at Macquarie University Hospital SAN
• Accredited VMO in Surgery, Norwest Private Hospital
• Accredited VMO in Surgery, Sydney Adventist Hospital

Key Duties:

• Performance of surgical operations including complex hepaticopancreaticobiliary and gastroenterological, open and laparoscopic & assistance of fellow consultants
• Full endoscopy service both for in and out patients, including intervention
• Outpatient consultations on referral basis by General Practitioners/specialists
• Inpatient assessment and management as referred by other specialists in the field of Upper GI and hepatobiliary surgery
• Multidisciplinary collaboration towards optimal patient care and best outcomes
• Feedback to patient families and referring colleagues
• Participation in emergency surgical cover including after hours on call
• Regular review of patient outcomes and quality of care (incl. audit & peer review)
• Weekly contribution to departmental meetings including MDT
• Teaching of postgraduate and undergraduate colleagues

Jan 2012- Jan 2013 Fellow in Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Liverpool Hospital

Mar 2011- Jan 2012 Fellow in Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital
During this period, I successfully completed a period of clinical oversight as per the College, towards admission as a Fellow of the RACS. This period was abbreviated after successful assessment for exceptional performance and I gained admission into the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in August 2012.

Key Duties:

• Management of Upper GI Unit and surgical inpatients
• Performance of complex surgical operations and endoscopy under mentorship
• Participation in after hours on call Fellow roster, supervision of registrars
• Participation in after hours trauma cover in a level one trauma centre
• Teaching of medical students and participation in student evaluation as required
• Supervision and teaching of registrars with procedures and patient management
• Co ordinate MDT surgical meetings and participation in ongoing departmental research

Jan2007-Feb2011 General Surgeon with Hepatobiliary and GI Surgery focus: Private practice:
Life Kingsbury/Claremont and Vincent Pallotti Hospitals, Cape Town, South Africa.

May 2007-Feb 2011

Key Duties:

• Performance of surgical operations including complex hepaticopancreaticobiliary and gastroenterological, open and laparoscopic
• Full endoscopy service both for in and out patients, including intervention and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography
• Outpatient consultations on referral basis by General Practitioners/specialists
• Inpatient assessment and management as referred by other specialists
• Assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of surgical pathology
• Collaboration with staff and colleagues across disciplines to ensure optimal patient care and favourable outcomes
• Patient care (pre-operative, operative and post-operative)
• Feedback to patient families and referring colleagues
• Participation in emergency surgical cover including after hours on call
• Regular review of patient outcomes and quality of care (incl. audit & peer review)
• Full administration of solo private practice, management of full and part time staff
• Assistance of colleagues with operations
• Regular presentations to colleagues as part of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), regular attendance of CPD presentations
• Additional trauma service to Vincent Pallotti Hospital:
• Provision of trauma surgical services to Level 1 centre
• Close cooperation with other specialists and hospital staff
• Performance of trauma general surgery

Sessional Consultant in the Department of Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital

• Major academic teaching hospital
• Performance of ERCP & supervision and teaching of fellows in ERCP
• Provision of cover of full-time consultants during periods of absence
• Supervision of junior colleagues with surgical operations
• Contribution to teaching ward rounds and combined radiology/HPB meetings
• Invited speaker in Departmental annual seminar

Oct 2007-Feb 2011 – Honorary Lecturer Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town

• Teaching of undergraduate MBChB students (5th and 6th year)
• Small group teaching and whole class seminars
• Examiner in final year clinical examinations in General Surgery

Jan 2007-Feb 2011 Sessional Consultant 2nd Military Hospital, Wynberg Cape Town.

Jan 2007-May 2007 Part time Consultant in Department of Surgery, Victoria Hospital Wynberg.
Supervision of medical officers and interns; responsible for management of in patients. Twice weekly operating lists and outpatient clinics.

Jan 2005-Dec 2006 Junior Consultant: HPB and Upper Gastrointestinal Unit, Groote Schuur Hospital.
Responsibilities: managing inpatient care, twice weekly operating lists, 1 in 3 consultant emergency surgical cover. Minimum of 2 outpatient clinics/week. Endoscopy services including interventions/ERCP. Supervision of registrars, interns and medical students. Teaching of undergraduates and postgraduates.

Jan 2004-Dec 2004 Junior Consultant: Trauma Unit Groote Schuur Hospital.
Supervision of surgical registrars. Consultant trauma surgical cover on a one in 4 basis, of a regional level one trauma centre. Teaching of registrars and medical students.

August-Dec 2003 Acting Junior Consultant: Transplant Unit Groote Schuur Hospital.

Weekly outpatient clinics. Weekly dialysis access and transplantation lists.

Feb 1999-July 2003 General surgical registrar: Groote Schuur and Red Cross Children’s Hospitals.

United Kingdom June 98-Jan 1999 Regular Senior House Officer locums.

South Africa Jan-June 1998 Accident and Emergency Unit Milnerton Medi Clinic.

1997 Internship Groote Schuur and Red Cross Children’s Hospitals.

• Dissertation towards Master of Medicine in Surgery, University of Cape Town 2006: “Pancreatic Fluid Collections: Towards a Classification to Facilitate Treatment Selection.”
• Sub investigator in the following clinical trials
• Protocol BAP00154: ICON for Basilea 2005 – A Phase III, randomised, double-blind study of Ceftobiprole vs Vancomycin in the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections
• Protocol P903-03: Clindev for Cerexa 2006- A Phase II, multi-centre, randomised, open-label study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PPI-0903 vs Vancomycin in adult patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections
• Protocol BAP00414: ICON for Johnson and Johnson 2006 – A Phase III, randomised, double blind study of Ceftobiprole Medocaril vs Vancomycin with Ceftazidine in the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections

• Chen Y, Wykes J, Haveman JW, Apostolou C, Merrett ND. “Laparoscopic repair of Morgagni hernia: an interesting case and complication”. ANZ J Surg. 2013; 83: 688-689.
• Chen S, Apostolou C, Selvedran S, Das A, Majid A, Merrett ND. “ Splenic rupture in a young man caused by splenic vein thrombosis”. Presented at the annual ANZHPBA meeting in Manly NSW, 9-10 August 2013
• Annabattula C, Yabe T, Apostolou C, Schlaphoff G, Das A. “Microwave ablation therapy for metastatic liver lesions – a single centre study”. Presented at the Annual ANZHPBA meeting in Coolum Queensland, 4-7 November 2012.
• Gaszynski R, Apostolou C, Merrett N, Das A. “Multi Disciplinary Management of liver abscess in an Australian Tertiary Institution”. Presented at the Annual ANZHPBA meeting in Coolum Queensland, 4-7 November 2012.
• Lim J, Apostolou C, Wilson R, Merrett N. “Management of duodenal gangliocytic paragangliomas: A case series and literature review”. Presented at the Annual ANZHPBA meeting in Coolum Queensland, 4-7 November 2012.
• Chen Y, Haveman JW, Apostolou C, Chang DK, Biankin AV, Merrett ND. “Long-term survival in gastric cancer: the experiences of a single Australian centre.” Published in abstract form, ANZ J Surg. 2012; 82: supp 1, presented at RACS ASC Malaysia May 2012.
• Chen Y, Haveman JW, Apostolou C, Chang DK, Biankin AV, Merrett ND. “Asian gastric cancer patients show superior survival; the experiences of a single Australian centre.” Published in abstract form, ANZ J Surg. 2012; 82: supp 1, presented at RACS ASC Malaysia May 2012.
• Chen Y, Haveman JW, Apostolou C, Chang DK, Biankin AV, Merrett ND. “Predictors of 5-year survival in gastric cancer: the experiences of a single Australian centre.” Published in abstract form, ANZ J Surg. 2012; 82: supp 1, presented at RACS ASC Malaysia May 2012.
• Wykes J, Chen Y, Haveman JW, Apostolou C, Merrett ND. “Laparoscopic repair of Morgagni hernia: an interesting case and complication.” Published in abstract form, ANZ J Surg. 2012; 82: supp 1, presented at RACS ASC Malaysia May 2012.
• Apostolou C, Haveman JW, Chang DK, Das A, Biankin A, Merrett ND. “Pancreatic Visceral Aneurysms – Report of 3 Cases and Literature Review’ Accepted for presentation at the 3rd Asian-Pacific HPBA Biennial Congress, Melbourne, 27th-30th September 2011.
• Apostolou C, Panieri E. “National survey of surgeons’ attitudes to laparoscopic surgical training in South Africa”. SAJS 2007; 45: 86-91.
• Apostolou C, Bornman PC, Krige JEJ. “Pancreatic fluid collections: Towards a classification to facilitate treatment selection.” Presented at the 7th International Hepatopancreatobiliary (IHPBA) Congress, Edinburgh, 3rd to 7th September 2006. Published in abstract form: IHPBA J 2006.
• Apostolou C, Krige JEJ, Bornman PC. “Pancreatic pseudocysts” Review. SAJS 2006; 44: 148- 155.
• Krige JEJ, Bornman PC, Shaw JM, Apostolou C. “Complications of endoscopic variceal therapy”. SAJS 2005; 43: 177-194.
• Apostolou C, Bornman PC, Krige JEJ. “Pancreatic fluid collections: Towards a classification to facilitate treatment selection’. Presented at the 44th SAGES Congress, Port Elizabeth, 6-9 August 2006. Published in abstract form: SAMJ 2006; 96:726-40.
• Apostolou C, Bornman PC, Krige JEJ, Kahn D. “The Management of Pancreatic Pseudocysts at Groote Schuur Hospital”. ASSA-SAGES 2004, Cape Town S Africa. (Oral-poster) Abstract published: SAMJ 2004; 94.
• Apostolou C, Zellweger R, Hess F, Navsaria PH, Nicol AJ. “Civilian Gallbladder Trauma.” (Poster) ASSA-SAGES 2004, Cape Town S Africa. Abstract published: SAMJ 2004; 94.
• Hewat MJV, Apostolou C, Naidoo NG, Nicol AJ, Navsaria PH. “Popliteal Artery Injuries.” ASSA- SAGES 2004, Cape Town S Africa. Abstract published: SAMJ 2004; 94.
• Apostolou C, Panieri E. “National Survey of Surgeons Attitudes to Laparoscopic Surgical Training in South Africa.” Presented at ASSA/SASES conference in Johannesburg, Aug 2003 Apostolou C, Boeddinghaus R, Krige JEJ, Bornman PC. “The Groote Schuur Hospital Pseudocyst Classification – role in formulating treatment strategies”. Presented at the Association of Surgeons of South Africa Congress, June 2002, Sun City S. Africa
• Apostolou C, Mirza K. “Successful Management of Penetrating Cardiac Injuries at a Secondary Hospital’ Presented at the 29th Congress of the Surgical Research Society of Southern Africa. Johannesburg, South Africa, 26-27 July 2001. Abstract published SAJS 2002 Feb; 40(1):22-37.

• English
• Greek-excellent
• Afrikaans-fair
• Italian-basic