The 12th Surgical Clinic at Metropolitan General Hospital was established with the aim of providing safe, state-of-the-art, and personalized surgical care across the full spectrum of general surgical diseases, utilizing the latest advances in minimally invasive surgery.
Every patient is treated as a unique individual—with responsibility, transparency, and respect—throughout every stage of care, from diagnosis to complete recovery.
The Department combines the Director's extensive international experience with the Swedish standards of quality assurance and patient safety, bringing to Greek clinical practice a healthcare model based on evidence-based international guidelines, standardized clinical pathways, and measurable outcomes. Our objective is to achieve the best possible surgical outcome with the least physiological burden, enabling patients to return rapidly to their normal daily activities.
Clinical Services
The Department provides comprehensive management across the entire field of general, laparoscopic, and oncological surgery, with particular expertise in:
Hernia Surgery
Treatment of inguinal, femoral, umbilical, incisional, and ventral hernias, including rectus diastasis, using modern open and minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques. The Director has extensive experience in abdominal wall surgery and has served as an instructor in hernia repair for surgical trainees.
Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
Advanced reconstruction of complex, recurrent, and giant abdominal wall hernias, as well as large abdominal wall defects following multiple previous operations. Equal emphasis is placed on restoring both functional integrity and aesthetic outcomes, in close collaboration with the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Metropolitan General Hospital.
Laparoscopic & Gastrointestinal Oncology Surgery
Minimally invasive surgical treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the colon, small intestine, appendix, gallbladder, and biliary tract, including cholelithiasis and gallbladder polyps.
Advanced Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery
Specialized surgical management of oesophageal and gastric malignancies using contemporary minimally invasive techniques, in collaboration with internationally recognized upper gastrointestinal surgeons from leading Swedish university hospitals.
Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery
Comprehensive metabolic risk assessment, bariatric surgery, metabolic surgery, and modern pharmacological treatment of obesity.
Minimally Painful Proctological Surgery
Treatment of haemorrhoids, rectal mucosal prolapse, anal fissure, anal fistula, and pilonidal disease using contemporary minimally invasive techniques, including laser surgery where appropriate.
Skin & Soft Tissue Surgery
Excision of benign and malignant skin lesions, melanocytic naevi, lipomas, sebaceous cysts, and surgical treatment of ingrown toenails.
Second Opinion Service
Evidence-based specialist consultations providing independent second opinions for both patients and referring physicians.
Surgical Techniques & Innovation
At the Department of General Surgery XII, technology serves as a tool to support surgical expertise—it never replaces clinical judgement. The choice of surgical technique is always individualized according to each patient's needs, prioritizing clinical benefit and safety rather than technological complexity.
Surgery Without General Anaesthesia
One of the Department's most important innovations is the performance of numerous surgical procedures under local anaesthesia combined with monitored intravenous sedation, in close collaboration with experienced consultant anaesthesiologists.
Based on experience from thousands of procedures within the Swedish healthcare system, this approach offers:
- Improved patient safety
- Avoidance of risks associated with general anaesthesia
- Immediate postoperative mobilisation
- Same-day discharge in most cases
- Faster recovery
Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
Minimally invasive ("keyhole") surgery constitutes a cornerstone of the Department's practice.
Extensive experience enables the safe performance of technically demanding procedures while minimizing complications, postoperative pain, recovery time, and scarring through the use of high-definition laparoscopic technology.
Laser Surgery
When appropriately indicated, laser technology has significantly transformed the management of anorectal diseases—including haemorrhoids, anal fissures, anal fistulas—as well as selected vascular disorders.
Benefits include:
- exceptional surgical precision
- minimal bleeding
- reduced postoperative pain
- rapid recovery
Many procedures can be performed without hospital admission and, in selected cases, without general anaesthesia.
Robotic Surgery
Robotic-assisted surgery is employed selectively when it provides a genuine advantage over conventional laparoscopy, particularly in technically demanding or anatomically complex procedures.
Three-dimensional visualization and enhanced instrument dexterity allow greater surgical precision while maintaining the Department's commitment to patient safety and optimal clinical outcomes.
Patient Safety, Standardized Care & Quality Management
A defining characteristic of the Department is the integration of Scandinavian principles of patient safety and quality management into every stage of surgical care.
The Director developed this philosophy through many years of leadership within the Swedish healthcare system, serving in senior administrative positions, surgical advisory boards, multidisciplinary committees for complex surgical cases, and medical incident review panels.
Our quality framework includes:
Evidence-Based Practice
Every operation is planned and performed according to current international evidence-based clinical guidelines.
Standardized Clinical Pathways
Structured preoperative assessment, WHO surgical safety checklists, and standardized perioperative protocols ensure consistency and safety throughout the patient's journey.
Individualized Decision-Making
Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual patient, with careful selection of both the most appropriate surgical technique and the appropriate indication, avoiding overtreatment and unnecessary operations.
Continuous Quality Improvement
Clinical outcomes and complications are systematically monitored and analysed to promote ongoing quality improvement and excellence in patient care.
Transparency & Patient Communication
Patients and their families receive comprehensive, honest, and timely information throughout the entire treatment process, forming the foundation of a relationship built on trust.
International Collaborations
The Department maintains an active scientific collaboration with leading surgeons at major Swedish university hospitals, facilitating continuous exchange of expertise, multidisciplinary consultation for complex cases, and direct access to the latest developments in modern surgery.
Particular emphasis is placed on advanced upper gastrointestinal oncological surgery (oesophagus and stomach), an area of internationally recognized expertise among our Swedish collaborators.
Official international collaborators include:
- Jannis Rouvelas — Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm
- Andrianos Tsekrekos — Umeå University Hospital
The Director also maintains active clinical practice in Sweden through A-Surgery – Din Kirurgklinik, ensuring continuous integration of Scandinavian healthcare standards into everyday clinical practice in Greece.
Director of the Department
Dr. Elias Tsiolis is a Consultant General Surgeon with more than 25 years of experience in both the Greek and Swedish healthcare systems, specializing in minimally invasive and virtually painless surgery.
He graduated from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 2000 and completed advanced training in General Surgery, Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, and Therapeutic Endoscopy at university hospitals in Greece and Sweden, including Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Karlstad Hospital, Kungälv Hospital, Torsby Hospital, and Arvika Hospital.
He has also completed postgraduate studies in healthcare leadership and management at Stockholm Business School and the Karolinska Institute.
Certified as a Consultant Surgeon by the Swedish Surgical Society, Dr. Tsiolis has extensive leadership experience as Director of Surgical Departments and Clinical Divisions within the Swedish healthcare system and has served as a member of a Regional Healthcare Council.