The program includes:
- Initial presentation in the clinic
- clinical history taking
- review of medical records
- physical examination
- laboratory tests:
- complete blood count
- general urine analysis
- daily urine analysis
- biochemical blood test
- inflammation markers (CRP, ESR)
- blood coagulation analysis (aPTT, PT, INR)
- kidney ultrasound
- nursing services
- consultation of related specialists
- treatment by chief physician and all leading experts
- explanation of individual treatment plan
Required documents
- Medical records
- Kidney US (if available)
- MRI/CT scan (if available)
Service
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About the department
The Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology at the Asklepios Hospital Barmbek Hamburg offers all the possibilities of modern diagnostics and treatment for patients with kidney diseases, arterial hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The department's key area of specialization is the treatment of acute and chronic kidney failure. The department houses a specialized Shunt Surgery Center, which was founded in 2008. More than 1,000 interventions to create dialysis access are performed here annually. To ensure the success and safety of these interventions, the medical facility has at its disposal advanced imaging methods, including angiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The department also has a Dialysis Unit where renal replacement therapy for chronic kidney failure is performed. Special attention in this area is paid to hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. The department's specialists also admit patients with plasmacytoma (a malignant disease), which causes a severe complication, namely myeloma cast nephropathy. The department has a team of endocrinologists responsible for providing care to patients with types 1, 2, and 3 diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes. Their responsibilities range from diagnosing the disease to treating associated complications. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Meyer.
The department specializes in the treatment of kidney diseases of any severity. Of particular interest to the department's nephrologists is the treatment of acute and chronic kidney failure. The treatment methods for acute kidney failure depend on the causes of the pathology. Doctors initially carry out treatment to normalize water-electrolyte metabolism and blood pressure. In some cases, renal replacement therapy may be required. Chronic kidney failure usually develops due to diabetes mellitus and uncontrolled arterial hypertension. The treatment is aimed at slowing the progression of the disease and preserving kidney function. The department has various methods for this purpose, with priorities focused on regulating blood pressure, controlling blood glucose levels, preventing infections, and avoiding medications that have the potential to damage the kidneys.
Patients with chronic kidney failure often undergo dialysis and renal replacement therapy. The attending physician selects the best type of dialysis on an individual basis. Most often, patients receive hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis is extracorporeal blood purification. The patient is connected to a special machine that cleans the bloodstream of waste products, after which the purified blood is returned to the patient's blood vessels. Hemodialysis is usually performed 3 times a week. Peritoneal dialysis involves blood purification inside the body using the peritoneum as a natural semipermeable membrane. A solution is injected into the abdominal cavity through a catheter, absorbing waste products and excess fluid from the blood through the peritoneal membrane. The solution is then removed from the patient's body. The main advantage of peritoneal dialysis compared to hemodialysis is its relative simplicity, allowing most patients to undergo the procedure on an outpatient basis. The department also has successful experience in other blood purification procedures, including membrane plasma separation and immunoadsorption.
The department has established a Shunt Surgery Center since 2008, which employs a variety of shunting methods to create dialysis access. The center has state-of-the-art medical equipment, which ensures precise planning of the intervention and guarantees its maximum safety and efficiency. Over 7,000 shunt procedures have been performed here since the center was opened, which indicates the vast experience and professionalism of doctors in this field.
The department admits patients with diabetes mellitus. A highly qualified team of endocrinologists has been formed here for this. Doctors specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of types 1, 2, and 3 diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes (in cooperation with the Department of Obstetrics), and complications of diabetes mellitus. The department holds consultations in diabetology, including dietary recommendations for lactose intolerance, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diverticulosis, colitis, pancreatitis, gout, kidney failure, etc. To achieve the most effective results, specialists from related medical fields, including interventional radiologists, ophthalmologists, cardiologists, and other physicians, are involved in the diagnostic and treatment process. The department holds lifestyle modification programs for diabetes mellitus, during which patients receive comprehensive information on nutrition, controlled physical activity, and self-monitoring of blood glucose levels. Management of diabetes mellitus requires treatment with oral hypoglycemic medications or insulin therapy. The optimal drug therapy regimen is prescribed on an individual basis.
Another important focus of the department's work is providing care to patients with arterial hypertension. Highly qualified doctors certified by the German Hypertension League (DHL) treat patients here. The specialists most often deal with hypertensive crises and rare, resistant forms of arterial hypertension. As a rule, individual drug therapy is prescribed for these conditions.
The department's key clinical focuses include:
- Nephrology
- Diagnostics and treatment of acute and chronic kidney failure
- Diagnostics and treatment of glomerulonephritis caused by vasculitis, Wegener's granulomatosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, pulmonary diseases, etc.
- Diagnostics and treatment of kidney lesions caused by arterial hypertension
- Diagnostics and treatment of kidney lesions caused by plasmacytoma
- Endocrinology
- Diagnostics and treatment of types 1, 2, and 3 diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes mellitus, as well as complications of diabetes mellitus
- Other medical services
The department's therapeutic options include:
- Drug therapy
- Renal replacement therapy (dialysis)
- Hemodialysis
- Peritoneal dialysis
- Membrane plasma separation
- Immunoadsorption
- Insulin therapy, including insulin pump therapy
- Other treatment methods
Curriculum vitae
Since July 1, 2014, Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Meyer has held the position of Head Physician of the Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology at the Asklepios Hospital Barmbek Hamburg.
Prior to that, the doctor was the Head Physician of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf. After studying medicine in Freiburg, Prof. Meyer became an intern in Munich. The doctor also received a scholarship from the German Research Foundation (DFG), which made him a Research Fellow at the Harvard Medical School in Boston and a Research Fellow with a doctoral degree at the University of California, San Diego.
Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Meyer is an active trainer at the Asklepios Medical School. He holds courses and lectures on general and specialized nephrology every week.
Research Interests
- Current pharmacological and interventional treatment of arterial hypertension.
- Pathogenesis, clinical course, and treatment of various forms of glomerulonephritis.
Memberships in Professional Societies
- German Society of Nephrology.
- American Society of Nephrology.
- International Society of Nephrology.
- European Renal Association.
Photo of the doctor: (c) Asklepios Klinik Barmbek
About hospital
The Asklepios Hospital Barmbek Hamburg is an academic hospital of the University of Hamburg. The hospital was opened in 2005, and today it is one of the best and most modern medical centers in Europe. The priority areas of specialization of the medical facility are emergency medical care and comprehensive treatment of cancer, urologic diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and pulmonary diseases, as well as abdominal surgery and thoracic surgery. The hospital provides patients with top-class medical services that meet international standards.
The hospital has 620 beds. More than 36,000 inpatients and about 74,000 outpatients are treated here every year. The patients' health is in the safe hands of a highly professional team of over 1,600 doctors and nursing staff.
The hospital offers high-quality diagnostic and therapeutic services and strictly follows current clinical protocols. The hospital boasts modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art medical equipment. The hospital is one of the few in Europe where patients are successfully operated on using the da Vinci surgical system. The hospital also houses well-equipped endoscopy rooms, cardiac catheterization laboratories, laser surgery rooms, and operating rooms for arthroscopic interventions. All these technical resources contribute to effective and, at the same time, minimally traumatic treatment.
It is worth noting that the hospital has vast experience in serving international patients. According to the Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA), the Asklepios Hospital Barmbek Hamburg ranks among the top three medical centers worldwide for medical tourism.
The medical center also holds the international DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 quality certificate, attesting to the excellent medical services provided. For its outstanding achievements in oncology and surgery, the hospital has been awarded certificates from the German Cancer Society (DKG) and the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV).
Photo: (с) depositphotos
Accommodation in hospital
Patients rooms
The patients of the Asklepios Hospital Barmbek Hamburg live in comfortable single and double rooms. Each patient room has an ensuite bathroom with a shower and a toilet. The patient room furnishings include an automatically adjustable bed, a bedside table, a table and chairs for visitors, a TV, a radio, and a telephone. Wi-Fi access is also available in the patient rooms.
Patients can also be accommodated in enhanced-comfort rooms, which additionally include a rest area with upholstered furniture and a working area with a desk and a reading lamp. The bathroom in the enhanced-comfort rooms includes necessary toiletries, changeable towels, bathrobes, slippers, and a hairdryer. The enhanced-comfort rooms correspond to the standards of a high-class hotel.
Meals and Menus
The hospital offers tasty and balanced meals. Patients receive several menus to choose from and can see the menu in advance using a special mobile application. The hospital takes patients' food preferences into account and offers a wide range of dietary and vegetarian dishes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the patient's room.
There is a cozy cafeteria on the first floor of the hospital where one can enjoy a cup of aromatic coffee or delicious tea with a dessert. The cafeteria offers a wide selection of snacks and salads.
There is a small store on the territory of the hospital where one can buy fresh fruits, yogurts, sweets, and magazines.
Further details
Standard rooms include:
Religion
There is a prayer room on the first floor of the hospital where patients can find solitude for prayer.
The hospital has an evangelical pastor who is happy to talk with patients and support them in the process of their treatment.
Representatives of other religions are available upon request.
Accompanying person
Your accompanying person may stay with you in your patient room or at the hotel of your choice during the inpatient program.
Hotel
You may stay at the hotel of your choice during the outpatient program. Our managers will support you for selecting the best option.