Dr Javier Gallego Poveda

Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery

Dr Javier Gallego Poveda

Specialist in
  • Minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery.

  • Minimally invasive thoracic surgery (VATS and single-port surgery).

  • Surgical treatment of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).

«Less is better.»
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Professional profile

Dr Javier Gallego Poveda is a specialist in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, with a career focused on the development and implementation of minimally invasive surgical techniques in cardiothoracic surgery.

Throughout his career, he has been involved in the introduction and development of programmes for single-port thoracic surgery, non-intubated thoracic surgery and minimally invasive cardiac surgery, contributing to the advancement of these approaches in various European hospitals.

His clinical work focuses particularly on the surgical treatment of lung cancer, primary hyperhidrosis, valvular heart disease and diseases of the thoracic aorta, using advanced video-assisted thoracoscopy techniques and minimally invasive approaches.

He combines his clinical work with university teaching, the international training of surgeons and research, participating in scientific conferences and contributing to specialist publications on cardiothoracic surgery.

Education

Dr Gallego Poveda undertook his training in Spain and Portugal, specialising in cardiothoracic surgery and minimally invasive surgical techniques, including advanced training in robotic cardiac surgery, minimally invasive valve surgery, single-port thoracic surgery and the surgical treatment of complex cardiothoracic conditions.

2016 | Training in single-port thoracic surgery (Uniportal VATS). Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China.
2015 | International Doctorate in Medicine (PhD). University of Lisbon (UL) and Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain.
2014 | Training in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery. SANA Herzchirurgie Zentrum, Stuttgart, Germany. Supervisor: Prof. Nicolas Doll.
2014 | Training in the treatment of atrial fibrillation using video-assisted thoracoscopy. SANA Herzchirurgie Zentrum, Stuttgart, Germany. Supervisor: Prof. Nicolas Doll.
2012 | Training in single-port minimally invasive thoracic surgery. Juan Canalejo University Hospital, A Coruña, Spain. Training under Dr Diego González Rivas.
2008 – 2009 | Fellowship at the interventional cardiology laboratory. Santa Maria University Hospital, CHLN, Lisbon, Portugal.
2008 | Specialist in Cardiovascular Surgery. Equivalence of specialist qualification in Spain.
2008 | Specialist in Thoracic Surgery. Equivalence of specialist qualification in Spain.
2008 | Specialist in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Portugal.
2006 | Training in heart, lung and cardiopulmonary transplantation. La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
2006 | Training in congenital heart disease. La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
2006 | Training in congenital heart disease. Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
2006 | Training in congenital heart disease in adults. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Spain.
2002 – 2008 | Supplementary residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Santa Maria University Hospital, CHLN, Lisbon, Portugal. Top-ranked candidate nationally in the specialist examination.
1995 – 2001 | Degree in Medicine and Surgery. Faculty of Medicine, University of Lleida (UdL), Spain.

Professional experience

Dr Gallego Poveda has carried out his professional career at various leading hospitals specialising in cardiothoracic surgery, combining clinical practice, teaching and research.

2014 – Present | Cardiothoracic surgeon. UMICS® – Unit for Minimally Invasive Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery.
2012 – Present | Cardiothoracic surgeon. HPA Saúde Group.
2008 – Present | Coordinator of Thoracic Surgery. Lusíadas Saúde.
2002 – 2018 | Cardiothoracic surgeon. Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon.

Scientific publications

Dr Gallego Poveda has contributed to various scientific publications relating to cardiothoracic surgery, robotic thoracic surgery, minimally invasive thoracic surgery and advanced video-assisted thoracoscopy techniques.

2025 | Podaru R, Gonzalez-Rivas D, Gallego-Poveda J, Partida González C, et al. Apnoeic oxygenation for contralateral uniportal multiple lung resection following right pneumonectomy. A A Pract. 2025;19(10):e02067. doi:10.1213/XAA.0000000000002067
2023 | Gonzalez-Rivas D, Bosinceanu M, Manolache V, Gallego-Poveda J, Bale M, Motas N. Uniportal fully robotic-assisted bronchovascular sleeve bilobectomy. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2023. doi:10.21037/acs-2023-urats-36
2023 | Manolache V, Motas N, Bosinceanu ML, de la Torre M, Gallego-Poveda J, et al. Comparison of uniportal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery for pulmonary anatomic resections with multiport robotic-assisted thoracic surgery: a multicentre European study. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2023. doi:10.21037/acs-2022-urats-27
2023 | Gonzalez-Rivas D, Bosinceanu M, Manolache V, Gallego-Poveda J, Garcia A, Paradela M, et al. Uniportal fully robotic-assisted major pulmonary resections. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2023. doi:10.21037/acs-2022-urats-29
2023 | Paradela M, Garcia-Perez A, Fernandez-Prado R, de la Torre M, Gallego-Poveda J, et al. Uniportal robotic versus thoracoscopic-assisted surgery: a propensity score-matched analysis of the first 100 cases. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2023. doi:10.21037/acs-2022-urats-169
2022 | Motas N, Gonzalez-Rivas D, Bosinceanu ML, Gallego-Poveda J, Garcia-Perez A, Manolache V. Uniportal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery pneumonectomy. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2022. doi:10.21037/acs-2022-urats-21

Areas of special focus

Dr Gallego Poveda’s clinical practice focuses on the advanced surgical treatment of cardiothoracic conditions using minimally invasive approaches, single-port thoracic surgery and video-assisted thoracoscopy techniques. These include:

  • Heart valve disease.

  • Thoracic aortic conditions.

  • Primary hyperhidrosis.

  • Lung cancer.

  • Chest wall deformities.

Techniques and procedures

Dr Gallego Poveda performs advanced cardiothoracic surgery procedures, with a particular focus on robotic techniques and thoracoscopic approaches, aimed at reducing surgical trauma and promoting a faster patient recovery.

These include:

  • Robotic heart valve surgery.

  • Minimally invasive thoracic surgery using video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS).

  • Single-port thoracic surgery.

  • Thoracic surgery without intubation (awake thoracic surgery).

  • Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis.

Accreditations and memberships

Dr Gallego Poveda is a member of various international scientific societies relating to cardiothoracic surgery. These include, in particular:

  • European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery (FECTS).
  • American College of Surgeons (FACS).
  • European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

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