Ioannis Laoutaris

Ioannis Laoutaris works as a physiotherapist at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center (OCSC) from 1995 until today. Parallel to his clinical practice, he has conducted research in the field of physical rehabilitation of patients with heart failure, as well as patients with mechanical circulatory support (Left Ventricular Assist Device / LVAD) as a bridge to heart transplantation.

His ‘story’ concerns the research, development, and implementation of innovative training methods, such as respiratory muscle training to treat dyspnea in patients with heart failure, in the framework of his PhD thesis. The outcomes of his research in OCSC showed a significant improvement in the quality of life and aerobic capacity of these patients and became the groundwork for the integration of this training method in the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. Recently, he introduced the innovative “triple training hypothesis” (Aerobic/ Resistance/ Inspiratory [ARIS] training hypothesis) as the ideal training program for patients with heart failure.

He assumed coordination of the European study ARISTOS-HF, with OCSC as the coordinating center, which researched the above hypothesis and highlighted the significant clinical benefits of the “ARIS triple training program,” as a result of which the ARIS training program is nowadays being adopted by various European cardiology centers. The European Society of Cardiology has awarded him the 1st prize “In Recognition of Outstanding Scientific Work” for the first-ever application of a training program with significant benefits in patients with LVAD, while his scientific activity has also been awarded by the Hellenic Society of Cardiology, the Hellenic Society for the Study and Research of Heart Failure, and the Onassis Foundation.

The future goals of Ioannis Laoutaris remain the research and implementation of the ARIS program in special clinical populations, such as patients with LVAD and Heart Transplantation, as well as the complete implementation of cardiac rehabilitation programs for patients with cardiovascular diseases. His ‘story’ might have not existed without the contribution of Thanassis Dritsas, Deputy Director at the Cardiology Department and Head of the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Laboratory at OCSC, Professor of Cardiology Dionysios F. Kokkinos, and Stamatis Adamopoulos, Director of Heart Failure, Transplantation & Mechanical Circulatory Support Unit at OCSC, as well as other dear partners.