Vasileios N. Kalentzos
Vasileios N. KalentzosMD, MPH
Hyperbaric Expert
Director – Department of Hyperbaric & Diving Medicine of the Athens Naval Hospital
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Vasileios N. Kalentzos, MD, MPH

Attended Papagos High School and succeeded admission tests to enter the Military Medical Academy.  He graduated from the Medical School of Aristotle University (Thessaloniki) in 1996 and was sworn an officer of the Hellenic Navy. During the rotational education (induction course) at the Athens Naval Hospital he practiced in all clinics and laboratories of the hospital and graduated from the Naval Medicine school, Aerospace Medicine school and Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine seminar. He was trained and received his SCUBA diving certificate from the Underwater Demolition Unit of the Hellenic Navy and had his first stimuli that attracted him to Hyperbaric Medicine. After becoming a specialist (1999-2005 internship) he served as Consultant to the Department of Hyperbaric & Diving Medicine and since June 2013 he is the Director of the Department. After Definition of Hyperbaric Medicine as Fellowship in Greece (2016) he is Hyperbaric Expert certified by the Helenic Ministry of Health.

He has successfully completed BLS, ACLS, ATLS, ILS, ALS (European Resuscitation Council) courses. Also, the Generic Instructor Course of ERC and has participated in the teaching faculty of ILS provider course. He has been teaching in the annual Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine seminar for 20 years and is the Seminar Director since 2010. He has been presenting in teaching hospitals and post-graduate medical seminars and has written chapters in medical books about Hyperbaric Medicine topics. During his fellowship in Scotland-UK (2003-2005 Prof Phillip James), completing the corresponding course he was granted the degree of MPH (Master of Public Health) by the UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE. His dissertation was concerning Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Radiation Therapy either in combination for treatment of cancer or for the treatment of post-radiation injury (Title: Hyperbaric Oxygen – a Review of its Usefulness in Relation to Radiotherapy).

Since 1999 he is a member of the NATO Submarine Escape & Rescue Working Group as National Representative for the Medical Panel and has participated at the annual meetings of the Working Group, as well as in conference of NATO/RTO (Research & Technology Organisation).

He is involved in the management of the full spectrum of conditions treated by HBOT, especially (a) post-radiation injury and (b) diabetic foot disease. These conditions have growing prevalence and HBOT has shown unique beneficial effects. Osteoradionecrosis, post-radiation haemorrhagic cystitis, post-radiation skin reactions, problem wound healing, osteomyelitis – are some of the diseases where there is ample evidence of HBOT benefit. Vasileios is also involved in management of numerous cases of difficult to treat and complex (c) orthopaedic conditions where HBOT is used, such as: Chronic Osteomyelitis, delayed/nonunion of fractures (pseudarthrosis), aseptic bone necrosis and has relevant publications in scientific journals/presentations in respective medical conferences. Naturally, he has vast experience in diving incidents (Decompression Illness, Arterial Gas Embolism) given the fact that his Department covers 65% of Greece’s population, and is the centre of reference for management, diagnosis and education on Diving & Hyperbaric Medicine in Greece. He has published in Greek and International Medical Journals articles on Hyperbaric Medicine and diving incidents and he is Consultant to the hospital’s ICU on an educational and scientific basis. In brief, areas of main interest:

  1. Decompression Illness (DCI) – Management of diving incidents
  2. Sport Injuries
  3. Diabetic Foot complications (chronic ulcers, infections, ischaemia etc)
  4. Post-Radiation Injury (post-radiation cystitis / proctitis / enteritis / radiation dermatitis, osteoradionecrosis etc)
  5. Chronic Osteomyelitis, Delayed/Nonunion of fractures, Pseudarthrosis, Aseptic Osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis of the bones)
  6. Healing disorders (trauma, chronic ulcers)