Delfrate Roberto（Italy）Academic Advisory Board
Born in Parma on 14th May 1957. Enrolled in the degree course in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Parma. He graduated summa cum laude (110/110) in July 1983 with a dissertation titled: ‘Acute pancreatitis of biliary origin, the timing for surgical treatment of biliary lesions. In October of the same year, he passed the professional qualification exam. In October of that year, he completed the professional qualification exam conducted by the Order of Physicians of Parma.
In October 1988, he successfully finished a postgraduate specialization in General Surgery at the University of Parma with a score of 50/50, discussing the thesis: The significance of cystourethrography in the evaluation of inflammatory lesions of the bladder after rectal excision surgery.
Surgeon at the Surgical Department of the public hospital in Fiorenzuola d’Arda (Piacenza-Italy)) since October 1991 (National Health System).
In July 1994, he successfully completed a postgraduate specialization in Vascular Surgery at the University of Parma, achieving a score of 50/50, presenting the thesis: The importance of cystourethrography in assessing inflammatory lesions of the bladder post-rectal excision surgery.
Since 1991, as a surgeon in the Surgical Division of Fiorenzuola d’Arda, he performed a comprehensive range of professional tasks, encompassing general and vascular surgery, both emergency and elective, outpatient services, and, notably, Doppler examinations and, starting in 2000, color Doppler ultrasound, as well as diagnostic and operative endoscopy, both elective and emergency.
A notable aspect of his career should be highlighted. His involvement in color Doppler ultrasound diagnostics began with significant challenges, as the administrative management deemed Doppler ultrasound diagnostics unnecessary for venous surgery. Nonetheless, he commenced examining patients with varicose veins in the legs through ultrasound, understanding that stripping eliminated saphenous veins that appeared normal. Drawing from these insights, he initiated a quest for an improved therapeutic method, naturally exploring hemodynamic assessment, until he encountered Claude Franceschi in Spello (Umbria-Italy), during the early 2000s. It was during that time that a continuous partnership with Franceschi began, which remains active today and has significantly transformed his career.
January 2007 marked the beginning of a new chapter in his surgical career as Head of the Surgery Unit at the Figlie di San Camillo Hospital (NHS) in Cremona (Italy), a position he held until February 2023.
Since 2007, he has collaborated with Franceschi to organize CHIVA courses every years, which include patient evaluations and live CHIVA procedures. Around 450 experts took part in the hemodynamics courses, highlighting the commitment to advancing venous hemodynamics. Included in this experience is the opportunity to meet with the Smile medical group in Cremona. The partnership with the Smile group was solidified during a meeting in April 2019 in Beijing.
Due to our expertise in vascular hemodynamics, we successfully published scientific papers regarding IVC and enhancing the safety of anastomoses following intestinal resection, an essential element of general surgery.
Among all his publications (as author or co-author), the following are particularly noteworthy:
- Delfrate R, Bricchi, M, Franceschi C, Goldoni M. Multiple ligation of the proximal greater saphenous vein in the CHIVA treatment of primary varicose veins. Veins and Lymphatics, 2014. 3:1919;19-22. https://doi.org/10.4081/vl.2014.1919
- Delfrate R, Bricchi M, Forti P, Franceschi C. Infrared parietal colorectal flowmetry: a new application of the pulse oximeter. Is this method useful for general surgeons in preventing anastomotic leakage after colorectal resections? Open Access Surgery. 2015;8:61-65
- Franceschi C, Bricchi M, Delfrate R. Anti-infective effects of sugar-vaseline mixture on leg ulcers – Veins and Lymphatics; volume 6; 2017
- Delfrate R, Bricchi M, Franceschi C. Minimally-invasive procedure for pelvic leak points
in women. Veins and Lymphatics 2019; vol 8:7789, 2019
- Zamboni P, Franceschi C, Delfrate R. The overtreatment of illusory May Thurner syndrome. Veins and Lymphatics. 8:8020, 2019
- Delfrate R. Thanks to the CHIVA strategy, may the histoarchitecture of the great saphenous vein sparing make it suitable as graft for bypass? Veins and Lymphatics vol 8:8827, 2019
- Delfrate R. Anatomy of the pelvic leak point in the context of varicose veins. Phlebologie 2021;50:42-50
- Delfrate R. CHIVA strategy in treatment of venous insufficiency. JTAVR. 2023;8(2):17-32
Writer of textbooks on hemodynamic phlebology:
- Delfrate R. Manuale di emodinamica venosa degli arti inferiori. Edizioni Fantigrafica – ISBN 9788890496837. 2010
- Delfrate R. Moderni fondamenti di diagnostica dell’insufficienza venosa degli arti inferiori. Edizioni Fantigrafica – EAN ISBN-13 9788897962090. ISBN 9788897962090. 2012
- Delfrate R. A new diagnostic approach to varicose veins: haemodynamic evaluation and treatment, Lorena Dioni Editore – ISBN 978-88-98-681-00-6. 2014
- Delfrate R. Nuovo approccio diagnostico alle vene varicose. Lorena Dioni Editore. ISBN 978-88-98681-02-0. 2014
Author or co-author of the chapters in textbooks on hemodynamic phlebology. Among these, the following textbooks are significant:
- Delfrate R, Mendoza E. Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment of Pelvic Leak Points. In: Saphenous Vein-Sparing Strategies in Chronic Venous Disease. Zamboni P, Mendoza E, Gianesini S. Springer. 2018;203–15. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70638-2_8
- Delfrate R. Chapter 5.1in Nano G, Mazzacaro D. Update and Advanced in Medea medica, Pavia; ISBN: 9788866931157: p. 201-208, 2018
- Gianesini S, Delfrate R, Cappelli M, Mendoza E. CHIVA: Surgical Tips and Tricks. Saphenous Vein-Sparing Strategies in Chronic Venous Disease. Zamboni P, Mendoza E, Gianesini S. Springer 2018;181–202. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70638-2_7· Delfrate R. Pelvic leaks. In: Hemodynamic Saphenous Preserving Procedures in Chronic Venous Disease. Faccini FP, Ermini S, Franceschi C. Amazon KDP; 2022.
- Delfrate R. CHIVA – The GSV for arterial bypass. In: Hemodynamic Saphenous Preserving Procedures in Chronic Venous Disease. Faccini FP, Ermini S, Franceschi C. Amazon KDP; 2022
Significantly noteworthy is the unpaid role of teaching: “VASCULAR SURGERY 1 – MODULE: ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTICS OF VENOUS DISEASES” at the School of Specialization in Vascular Surgery, University of Milan, for the academic year 2022/2023, as per Legislative Decree No. 502 of December 30, 1992
Co-founder of the Italian Academy of Hemodynamic Phlebology, a scientific organization focused on education, in July 2018. Co-founder of the Italian and International Academy of Hemodynamic Phlebology (AIIFEm), a social entity established as a progression of the former organization in November 2023.
Since March 2023, he has been working at the ‘Clinico’ private outpatient clinic in Fiorenzuola d’Arda.
Particularly noteworthy are the arrangement of the First International AIIFEm Congress in Bari in October 2024, and the First AIIFEm CHIVA Webinar held at the Fiorenzuola d’Arda clinic in February 2025.
We welcome inquiries regarding academic collaboration, joint scientific meetings, educational initiatives, and appropriate institutional support aligned with the Academy’s mission.
Progress in medicine is sustained by independence of thought and generosity of knowledge.
