Profile
Associate Professor Victor Chao is a Senior Consultant with the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at National Heart Centre Singapore.
He graduated with his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the National University of Singapore in 1993. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, UK since 1999; Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons – Cardiothoracic, Edinburgh, UK since 2004 and Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Singapore since 2005.
Assoc Prof Chao completed his fellowship in Adult Cardiac Surgery at the St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia in 2005-6 and at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Heart & Vascular Institute, Ohio, and USA 2006 to 2008. During his time at the Cleveland Clinic, he underwent a 1 year Aortic and Endovascular Fellowship, a six month Heart Failure, Assist Device, and Transplant Fellowship, as well as gained exposure to re-operative cardiac surgery & transcatheter aortic valve implantation. He has also participated in short fellowships to Guys St Thomas' Hospital in London in 2013 for transcatheter aortic valve implantation; and the University of California San Diego & the Papworth Hospital, Cambridge UK in 2016 for pulmonary endarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). He participated in the Masters in Surgical Education program at the University of Melbourne Australia, from which he graduated with First Class Honors in 2019.
Assoc Prof Chao's subspecialty interests are in:
- Adult cardiac surgery including valve repair/replacement
- Aortic & endovascular surgery
- Heart failure/assist device/transplant surgery
- Transcatheter aortic valve implantation
- Pulmonary endarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)
- Surgery for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
- Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
He has served as Programme Director of the SingHealth Cardiothoracic Residency Programme since 2013, and began service as the Administrative Programme Director for the Singapore Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Programme in 2020.
His other appointments include:
- Service Chief @ National Heart Centre Singapore, SingHealth Duke-NUS Vascular Centre
- Director, Vascular Laboratory, National Heart Centre Singapore
Education
- FAMS, 2005
- RVPI
- RVT
- FRCSEd 2004
- FRCS 1999
- MBBS, National University of Singapore 1993
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Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships
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Awards
Most Improved JCST Programme Award, Residency in SingHealth Excels (RiSE) Awards (Programme Director), 2021
Best JCST Programme Award, Residency in SingHealth Excels (RiSE) Awards (Programme Director), 2021
SingHealth Excellence Awards – Distinguished Team Award (for formation of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Team), 2021
Long Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Setia), 2020
Singapore Health Quality Service Awards (Silver), 2020
Singapore National Day Award - Pingat Penghargaan (Tentera) (Commendation Medal (Military)), 2018
Outstanding Faculty Award, SingHealth Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency, 2017
- Singapore Health Quality Service Award – Star Award, Apr 2013 – Mar 2014
- Health Manpower Development Programme (HMDP) Award for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implant at Guys St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK, 2013
- Productivity Award – 100% Work Attendance, Year 2013
- Productivity Award – 100% Work Attendance, Year 2012
- Service Quality Silver Award, Jan 2013
- Service Quality Silver Award, Jan 2012
- Productivity Award – 100% Work Attendance, Year 2011
- Productivity Award – 100% Work Attendance, Year 2010
- Service Quality Bronze Award, Mar 2010
- Productivity Award – 100% Work Attendance, Year 2009
- Service Quality Bronze Award, Mar 2009
- Health Manpower Development Program (HMDP) Award for Endovascular and Aortic Arch Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, USA, 2006
- Jane Prize Paediatrics, 1993
- Gold Medal for Ophthalmology, 1992
- Book Prize for General Paper, Hwa Chong Junior College, 1988
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Publications
- Reconstruction of a Supinated Hypoplastiv Thumb with Combined Huber Transfer and Derotation, Osteotomy : A Case Report. Chao VTT, Low CK. Ann Acad Med Singapore 1999;28:875-6
- Optimum tensioning position for extensor indicis to extensor pollicis longus transfer. Low CK, Pereira BP, Chao VT. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2001 Jul;(388):225-32
- Tracheobronchial obstruction as a result of mediastinal mass. Chao VT, Lim DW, Tao M, Thirugnanam A, Koong HN, Lim CH. Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2006 Apr;14(2):e17-8
- Is there still a role for the classical Cox-Maze III? Yap CH, Prior D, Kenny J, Zimmet A, Chao V, Mooney D, Yii M. ANZ J Surg. 2006 May;76(5):351-5
- Modification of the Cox-Maze III procedure using bipolar radiofrequency ablation. Yii M, Yap CH, Nixon I, Chao V. Heart Lung Circ. 2007 Feb;16(1):37-49. Epub 2006 Dec 14
- Percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve replacement: first transfemoral implant in Asia. Chiam P T L, Koh T H, Chao V T T, Lee C Y, See Tho V Y, Tan S Y, Lim S T, Hwang N C, Sin Y K, Chua Y L. Singapore Med J 2009; 50(5) : 534
- Percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve replacement: first transapical implant in Asia. Chao V T T, Chua Y L, Chiam P T L, Lee C Y, See Tho V Y, Tan S Y, Sin Y K, Hwang N C, Lim S T, Koh T H. Singapore Med J 2010; 51(1) : 69
- Percutaneous transcatheter heart valve implantation in a bicuspid aortic valve. Chiam PT, Chao VT, Tan SY, Koh TH, Lee CY, Tho VY, Sin YK, Chua YL. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2010 May;3(5):559-61
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation with Preexisting Mechanical Mitral Prosthesis — Use of CT Angiography. Chao VT, Chiam PT, Tan SY. J INVASIVE CARDIOL 2010;22(7):339-40
- Incidental finding of Asymptomatic Aortic Dissection. Goh EYL, Ng SCK, Chao VTT, Ding ZP. Journal for Vascular Ultrasound 34(3):124-126, 2010
- Iliofemoral anatomy among Asians: Implications for Transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Chiam PT, Koh AS, Ewe SH, Sin YK, Chao VT, Ng CK, Lee CY, Lim YP, Su JW, Lim SL, Tan TE, Lim CH, Tan SY, Lim ST, Chua TS, Koh TH, Chua YL. Int J Cardiol 2012 Apr 20
- An octogenarian with painless type A aortic dissection and cardiac tamponade. Chin CW, Koh N, Wong A, Lai SH, Chao V. Postgrad Med J. 2012 Dec;88(1046):729-30. Epub 2012 Jul 21
- Outcome and survival analysis of surgical repair of post-infarction ventricular septal rupture. Pang PY, Sin YK, Lim CH, Tan TE, Lim SL, Chao VT, Su JW, Chua YL. Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery 2013, 8:44
- Asia’s First Successful Minimally Invasive Transapical Transcatheter Mitral Valve-in-Valve Implantation. Soon JL, Chua YL, Chao VT, Chiam PT, Ewe SH, Seetho VY, Lee CY, Tan SY, Koh TH, Sin KY. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2013 Feb;42(2)”85-7
- Surgical management of infective endocarditis: an analysis of early and late outcomes. Pang PY, Sin YK, Lim CH, Tan TE, Lim SL, Chao VT, Chua YL. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2015 May;47(5):826-32. Epub 2014 Jul 15.
- Does preoperative statin therapy prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery? Sean L. Goh, Kok H. Yap, Kim C. Chua and Victor TT Chao. Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery 2015 Mar;20(3):422-8, Epub 2014 Dec 4.
- Comparison of the Haemodynamic Parameters of Venous and Arterial Coronary Artery Bypass Conduits. Zhang JM, Chan CJ, Kang N, Soon JL, Sin KY, Chao VT, Tan TE, Lim CH, Chakaramakkil MJ, Ooi AS, Chua YL, Tan RS, Zhong L. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2016 Aug;45(8):369-72.
- Endovascular Retrieval of Entrapped Elephant Trunk Graft During Complex Hybrid Aortic Arch Repair. Damodharan K, Chao VT, Tay KH. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2016 Dec;39(12):1770-1773.
- Therapeutic Hypothermia May Improve Neurological Outcomes in Extracorporeal Life Support for Adult Cardiac Arrest. Pang PY, Wee GH, Huang MJ, Hoo AE, Tahir Sheriff IM, Lim SL, Tan TE, Loh YJ, Chao VT, Soon JL, Kerk KL, Abdul Salam ZH, Sin YK, Lim CH. Heart Lung Circ. 2017 Jan 17. pii: S1443-9506(17)30016-1. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2016.11.022. [Epub ahead of print]
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Research Trials
- TRICS-.‐III: Transfusion Requirements in Cardiac Surgery: An international, multi-centre, randomized controlled trial to assess Transfusion thresholds in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, Co-PI
- An arterial sheath which allows bidirectional blood flow, A bidirectional arterial cannula to prevent limb ischemia during cardiopulmonary bypass, PI
- A bidirectional arterial cannula to prevent limb ischemia in ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) Patients – Patent Filed (US Provisional Patent - application number US 61/679,167), PI
- Characteristics of forearm arteries in local Asian population undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. 2011., PI
- Prevalence of access site vascular complications after percutaneous cardiac procedures. 2011 PI
A 20-year single center study on the natural history of Stanford Type B Aortic Dissection in our Local Asian Population. 2011, PI - Hokusai VTE: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Parallel-Group, Multi-Center,Multi-National study for evaluation of efficacy and safety of (LMW) Heparin/Edoxaban Versus (LWM) Heparin/Warfarin in subjects with symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism. (Co-Investigator). Principal Investigator: Dr Sin YK, Co-I
- Randomised Evaluation of Mitral Annuloplasty for Moderate Functional Ischaemic Mitral Regurgitation During Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. Principal Investigator: Lim See Lim, Co-I
- Study of Human Thymic Regulatory T Cells. Principal Investigator: Sin YK, Co-I
- RE-COVER II. A phase III, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study of the efficacy and safety of oral dabigatran etexilate compared to warfarin for 6 months treatment of acute symptomatic venous thromboembolism, following initial treatment for at least 5 days with a parenteral anticoagulant approved for this indication. Principal Investigator: Sin YK, Co-I
- V710: A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, group-sequential study to evaluate the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of a single dose of Merck 0657nl S. aureus vaccine (V710) in adult patients scheduled for cardiothoracic surgery. Principal Investigator: Lim Chong Hee, Co-I
- Duplex Study of Aorto-Iliac Arterial Dimensions in an Asian Population – Implications for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation, Co-I
- Correlation of Dimensions of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract and Sinus of Valsalva to Biometrics in an Asian Population. Co-investigators: Ding ZP & Kenneth WQ Guo, PI
- Hybrid Operating Theatre Design and Construction, Main Operating Theatre, Singapore General Hospital Team
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)Project, National Heart Centre, Singapore, Team
- First Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implant in Asia (Feb 2009)
- First Transapical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implant in Asia
(Mar 2009)
- First Transcatheter Mitral Valve-in-valve Implant in Asia
(Dec 2009)
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