Best Sleep apnea otolaryngologists in Italy: TOP 4 doctors

Professor Antonino Spinelli is the Director of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Humanitas Research Hospital.

The Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery is one of the most important centres for colorectal disease, especially for procedures of sphincter preservation for rectal tumours, but also for chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease, ulcerative rectal colitis…) and the surgical treatment of diverticular pathologies. 

Professor Spinelli carries out a constant research on minimally invasive surgeries, including the single-port surgery, mini-laparoscopy, low-impact surgery and trans-anal techniques (TATME, TAMIS, TTSS). Furthermore, the advanced postoperative recovering is another area of his interest.

He graduated as MD in 2001 at University of Milano. During his education, he won several scholarships: he trained ad University of Berlin Charitè for two years at the Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery. Also, he obtained his PhD on Surgical Phsyiopathology with a dissertation on enhanced recovery for laparoscopic colorectal surgery in 2011. 

Current Teaching Activity: he is Full Professor of Surgery at Humanitas University. 

Also, Professor Spinelli is general Secretary of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) and Board Member of the Guidelines Committee (GulCom) of the European Crohn Disease and Colitis Organization (ECCO). He is Fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery (FASCRS), Honorary Fellow of the Czech Society of Surgery (CSS) and Honorary Member of the Brazilian College of Digestive Surgery (CBCD). 

He is a member of the International Organization for the study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD) and several other national and international scientific societies. 

In addition, Professor Spinelli serves as Associate Editor for Colorectal Disease (Journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain & Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons of England, of the European Society of Coloproctology and of the Spanish Society of Coloproctology – Asociación Española de Coloproctología), Diseases of the Colon and Rectum (official journal of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons), Journal of the Anus, Rectum and Colon (official journal of the Japan Society of Coloproctology).

He is Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Crohn’s Colitis (official journal of the European Crohn’s Colitis Organization), Advisory Board of Coloproctology (official journal of the German Society for Coloproctology – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Koloproktologie) and Editorial Board Member of Updates in Surgery (official journal of the Italian Society of Surgery – Società Italiana di Chirurgia).

Dr. Nicola Vione specializes in Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Pathology.

He began his training at the University of Turin where, in 1996 he obtained a degree in Medicine and Surgery, and in 1997 the qualification to practice. Subsequently, in 2001 he obtained the specialist diploma in Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Pathology. 

Over the years of his career he has attended various prestigious hospitals, perfecting himself in Functional and Aesthetic Surgery of the nose, performing thousands of operations and obtaining excellent results. He regularly attends specialization courses and national and international congresses, learning the most avant-garde techniques of the moment such as preservation rhinoplasty which allows primary rhinoplasty operations to be performed, guaranteeing respect for the anatomy of the nose and obtaining extremely natural and a shorter post-operative period.

Since 2015, he has been collaborating with the "Micheli-Pellegrini" Study Center, one of the most prestigious schools in Italy of rhino-cervical-facial reconstructive surgery, as a member of the scientific committee and as a Professor of Functional and Aesthetic Surgery of the Nose. He currently works at the San Luigi Gonzaga public hospital in Orbassano (Turin), as Medical Director of the Otolaryngology Operative Unit. He also works in some private clinics, such as Santa Caterina da Siena GVM and the Fornaca Clinic in Sessant.

Dr Vione is a member of numerous national scientific societies such as AICEFF (Italian Association of Aesthetic and Functional Surgery of the Face), AOOI (Association of Italian Hospital Otorhinolaryngologists), AIOCC (Italian Association of Head and Neck Oncology) and SIOeChCF ( Italian Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery). Registered, since 1997, in the Provincial Order of Surgeons of Asti

Dr. Nicola Vione is an established professional in the field of Otolaryngology and particularly expert in Functional and Aesthetic Surgery of the nose.

Professor Claudio Vicini brings over 40 years of expertise in Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery. He is internationally recognized for his proficiency sleep surgery and  in robotic-assisted surgeries, particularly for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and head and neck cancers. As a leading expert in Eagle syndrome, Prof. Vicini has extensive experience in its diagnosis and treatment, especially through surgical styloidectomy, open or transoral. 

Following a distinguished clinical career at renowned national and international institutions, Prof. Vicini now serves as a consultant, surgeon, and medical coordinator at GVM Hospitals. He also leads the Kalypnos Project at Lucia Magnani Health Clinic, an innovative multidisciplinary program designed to diagnose and address insomnia, snoring, and sleep apnea comprehensively, including their association (COMISA).

EDUCATION

Prof. Claudio Vicini earned his medical degree from the University of Pisa, Italy, in 1978 as Student at   Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari – Collegio S.Anna. He went on to obtain three residencies and specializations, all with honors, solidifying his expertise in Otorhinolaryngology and related fields:

• Otolaryngology (1981, University of Pisa): His thesis focused on acute supraglottic laryngitis.
• Neurology (1985, University of Ferrara): He explored vestibular rehabilitation in his thesis.
• Audiology (1989, University of Florence): He conducted an experimental study on the neuropharmacological effects of diazepam on vestibular reflexes.
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• Prof. Vicini enhanced his expertise through training and research at Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Toronto. He engaged in advanced surgical dissection training and cutting-edge methodologies at renowned centers in Europe and the United States, such as the Anatomy Institute of the LHB in Brussels and the University of Pennsylvania (PENN).

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY

• Prof. Claudio Vicini is a distinguished specialist in Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery with over 40 years of experience managing complex conditions. He has held leadership positions at prominent regional and national institutions, and as Director of the Department of Head & Neck Surgery for regional health authorities.
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• An internationally recognized authority in sleep disorder treatment, Prof. Vicini has coordinated national and international committees, co-authored foundational medical guidelines, and techniques such as Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE). 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

• National Scientific Qualification, 2012 and 2018: for the position of Associate Professor in Otorhinolaryngology and impact of his scientific work with high level of contribution to the field of Obstructive Sleep Apneas and Robotic Surgery.
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• Top Cited Paper Impact Factor Award, 2011, for the paper entitled: “Transoral Robotic Tongue Base Resection in Obstructive Sleep”, and “Apnoea-Hypopnoea Syndrome: a Preliminary Report”. 
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• Prof.  Vicini is an active member of several international societies, including:
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• Italian Association of Sleep Medicine (AIMS)
• Italian Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery - A national society that promotes the interests and advancements in the field of otolaryngology in Italy