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Walter Klepetko
48
years of experience

Walter Klepetko

  • Specialization: Thoracic surgeon
  • 48 years of experience
  • Speaks:
    German, English
  • Workplace: Austria, Vienna, Wiener Privatklinik (WPK)

  • Prof. Walter Klepetko pioneered Austria's first lung transplants and built one of Europe's leading thoracic surgery programs at the Medical University of Vienna.

    • 48 specializing in complex thoracic oncology and lung transplantation
    • Former Head of Thoracic Surgery at Medical University of Vienna
    • Developed advanced minimally invasive techniques for thoracic tumors
    • Renowned for handling high-risk cases and complex resections
4.6
Excellent score
20 patient verified reviews
1 star
5%
2 stars
5%
3 stars
15%
4 stars
15%
5 stars
60%

Patient reviews

About clinic Wiener Privatklinik (WPK)
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1-5 of 20 reviews
Аleksandr • Dialysis
Ukraine
Jun 23, 2026
Verified review.
The support from the clinic since I started treatment has been brilliant
What worried me most was what haemodialysis would actually be like and how I would feel. But my doctor was honest about what to expect and explained the whole process very clearly, including the diet and fluid restrictions. As it turns out, I feel better than I expected. I’ve been prescribed three sessions a week, and the support from the clinic since I started treatment has been brilliant. They’re always available, they’ve checked in on how I’m feeling and given me clear instructions. Importantly, there were no additional costs. My advice to future patients would be to prioritise their health above all else.
Everything's fine.
Anonymous • Surgery
Ukraine
Jul 5, 2026
Verified review.
Thank you to your organisation and to you personally, as well as to Angelica from the host organisation, for your help!
I suppose I’d give it a 4.8, really. But that wasn’t down to you. The doctor saw me an hour and a half after the scheduled time. However, the consultation was very informative. Thank you to your organisation and to you personally, as well as to Angelica from the host organisation, for your help!
Anonymous • CT scan of the whole body
Slovenia
Jun 2, 2026
Verified review.
Given how positive my experience was, I would definitely recommend this clinic to anyone needing similar care
My biggest concern was the anxiety around getting a full-body CT scan, but that worry disappeared quickly. From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel comfortable and explained every single step, which was incredibly reassuring. The clinic was clean and organized, and the medical team was both professional and genuinely kind throughout the entire process. Everything went smoothly. Given how positive my experience was, I would definitely recommend this clinic to anyone needing similar care. I'm grateful for how they handled my case with such efficiency and compassion.
Nothing
Anonymous • PET/CT
Ukraine
May 15, 2026
Verified review.
My experience has been entirely negative. The treatment prescribed did not follow the standard protocol for this condition. Under this treatment, the condition only worsened. I was given information about the most effective treatment currently used worldwide. I never received the doctor’s conclusion following the consultation, even though I asked for it several times. And on top of everything else, judging by the result, it wasn’t worth €500. A treatment that doesn’t work, with no documentation whatsoever. Just a conversation with a professor to whom you have to ask a thousand questions and figure out the treatment options for your condition yourself, because he offers nothing and explains nothing.
Speed of service delivery
The treatment recommended by the professor at the Austrian clinic was completely at odds with standard treatment protocols I never received the discharge summary, even though I had asked for it several times
Tetyana • Metastases in the liver
Ukraine
Apr 19, 2026
Verified review.
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Qualifications

Prof. Dr. Walter Klepetko is a thoracic surgeon known for his work in lung transplantation and thoracic oncology. He directs the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna. The specialist performed one of Austria’s first lung transplants in 1989.

Specialization and Clinical Focus

Dr. Klepetko treats complex thoracic diseases, specializing in lung cancer and thymoma. He uses minimally invasive techniques and extended surgical procedures. The surgeon also performs lung transplantation for patients with advanced lung failure. He co-developed the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technique for heart-lung transfers. This technology provides life support for patients with severe respiratory failure — a machine that pumps and oxygenates a patient's blood outside the body.

Lung Transplantation Leadership

Dr. Klepetko founded the Vienna Lung Transplant Program in 1989. This initiative grew into a large center. His team performs over 100 transplants annually. In 2018, he led the successful lung transplant for Niki Lauda. The doctor works with neighboring countries to improve donor organ availability. Additionally, he joined ten former patients on a climb to Kilimanjaro in 2017.

Professional Experience

  • Current — Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna
  • Current — Consultant and Professor, Wiener Privatklinik
  • Current — Director of the Lung Transplantation Program, Vienna General Hospital (AKH)
  • 2000s — Appointed Head of Thoracic Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna
  • 1980s — Completed specialist training at Vienna General Hospital

Education and Training

Completeled advanced training as an international fellow at:

  • 1978 — Medical Degree, University of Vienna, Austria
  • Specialist Training — Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vienna, Austria
  • Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
  • Toronto General Hospital, Canada
  • Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
  • Papworth Hospital Cambridge, UK

Surgical Procedures Performed

  • Lung transplantation
  • Lobectomy and lung segmentectomy — surgical removal of a large or small section of the lung
  • Lung cancer surgery
  • Thymoma removal — surgery to remove a tumor in the thymus gland
  • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

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