Asklepios Hospital Barmbek Hamburg - Departments

The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services in areas of its specialization. Patients with gastrointestinal disorders such as those of the stomach, esophagus, small intestine, large intestine, and pancreas are treated here. The department's doctors also admit patients with liver, gallbladder, and bile duct diseases. The department's specialists have a particular clinical interest in the treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the digestive system, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, stomach polyps, bowel polyps, pancreatitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gallstone disease, and cirrhosis. The department operates a modern Endoscopy Unit where many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are performed. The department's gastroenterologists quite often manage to perform endoscopic interventions. This treatment is minimally traumatic but its effectiveness is in no way inferior to open surgery. Many endoscopic procedures are performed on an outpatient basis without a mandatory hospital stay. The department is an integral part of the Asklepios Cancer Center Hamburg. Gastroenterologists also cooperate closely with abdominal surgeons, so patients receive comprehensive medical care.

The Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery and Hernia Surgery offers the full range of services in the areas of its specialization. The department's surgical team successfully performs interventions for diseases of the stomach, esophagus, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. Patients with various types of hernias, including inguinal, umbilical, and incisional hernias, are also operated on here. It should be noted that the department also performs cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which is an advanced treatment method for peritoneal carcinomatosis. The specialists at the medical facility strive to provide patients with not only effective but also as sparing treatment as possible. That is why the use of minimally invasive surgical techniques is a priority. Such an approach to treatment practically eliminates surgical risks and reduces the duration of a hospital stay. The department has the status of an Expert Center for Liver and Pancreatic Surgery as well as a Competence Center for Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, which is confirmed by the certification from the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV). In addition, the medical facility regularly demonstrates high success rates in the surgical treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, which are confirmed by the certification from the German Cancer Society (DKG).

The Department of Mammology provides patients with comprehensive diagnostics and conservative and surgical treatment of breast diseases. The department admits patients with benign and malignant breast pathologies, but due to the high frequency of breast cancer, special attention is paid to providing medical care to women with this diagnosis. The medical facility was awarded the prestigious quality certificates of the German Cancer Society (DKG) and the German Society for Senology (DGS), which testify to compliance with the strict requirements in modern mammology and high treatment success rates. The department employs a qualified team consisting of breast specialists, oncologists, radiologists, radiation therapists, plastic surgeons, psycho-oncologists, and specially trained nursing staff. Their task is to provide each patient with effective and minimally invasive treatment, if possible. The aesthetic aspect also plays an important role in the planning of breast cancer surgery. The doctors always show a humane attitude and understanding of the patient's life situation and strive to morally support the woman throughout the therapeutic process. The exceptional professionalism of doctors combined with advanced technologies allows them to take on the most complicated clinical cases and achieve good results.

The Department of Gynecology offers the full range of medical services for women with benign and malignant diseases of the reproductive system. The primary focus of the department's specialization is the treatment of female reproductive cancers, such as uterine cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer. Patients with benign gynecologic diseases such as endometriosis, uterine myomas, cervical dysplasia, polycystic ovaries, pelvic prolapse, and urinary incontinence are also treated here. The department is proud of its advanced operating rooms, adapted to perform sparing minimally invasive interventions. The department's gynecologists also have a perfect command of the da Vinci robot-assisted surgical techniques. Such operations are characterized by high precision and a low trauma rate, while their efficiency is not inferior to open surgery. The da Vinci surgical system is successfully used in the department for the removal of uterine and cervical malignancies, the removal of myomas, the treatment of endometriosis, and the repair of pelvic organ prolapse. Operations using the da Vinci surgical system are performed by specially trained surgeons with experience in performing interventions of this kind. The department's team of gynecologists works hand in hand with breast specialists, obstetricians, urologists, radiologists, oncologists, and other experts to provide each patient with comprehensive medical care.

The Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology 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 of Cardiology provides comprehensive diagnostics and treatment of the full range of cardiovascular diseases and concomitant internal diseases. The department's cardiologists specialize in drug therapy and interventional catheter-based treatment. State-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories serve to perform many effective interventional procedures that often replace traumatic open-heart surgery. The specialists successfully perform interventional procedures such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, left atrial appendage closure with an occluder, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and defibrillator implantation. The department has a Chest Pain Unit where patients with acute coronary syndrome are admitted round the clock. The department boasts its advanced diagnostic infrastructure, including equipment for CT, MRI, and ultrasound scans of the heart, intravascular ultrasound scans, echocardiography, Holter ECG monitoring, fractional flow reserve measurement, etc. The health of patients is in the safe hands of a team of highly qualified specialists for whom the priority is effective and, at the same time, sparing treatment with due consideration of the patient's individual wishes and needs.

The Department of Neurology and Epileptology offers the full range of medical services in the areas of its specialization. The medical facility diagnoses and treats diseases of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles. The department also provides round-the-clock care for patients with urgent neurological conditions. Stroke patients are treated in a specialized Stroke Unit certified in accordance with the requirements of the German Stroke Foundation and the German Stroke Society. The department houses a laboratory for ultrasound scanning of the cerebral vessels and a laboratory for clinical neurophysiologic diagnostics. Among the primary focuses of the department's clinical practice is the treatment of Parkinson's disease and myasthenia gravis. The outstanding achievements of the department in these areas are confirmed by prestigious quality certificates. A particular focus of the department's neurologists is on epilepsy treatment. Multimodal pain management is also offered here for patients with chronic pain. The department's doctors have in their arsenal all modern methods of conservative therapy, providing the best results. Doctors from related medical fields may be involved in the therapeutic process, if necessary. The goal of neurologists is to normalize the state of the nervous system, thus providing patients with a high quality of life.

The Department of Pulmonology provides the full range of diagnostics and treatment for diseases of the respiratory system. The long clinical experience of doctors allows them to treat patients with diseases of any severity, ranging from bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and pneumonia to lung and pleural tumors. Of particular interest to the department's specialists are interventional endoscopic procedures, both diagnostic and therapeutic. The department also has all the necessary resources for mechanical ventilation and intensive care for patients with lung diseases and other pathologies of the internal organs. The department houses a specialized Weaning Center. The medical team of the center is proud of its outstanding results: complete weaning occurs in approximately 80% of patients, and only 15% of patients require respiratory support at home after their hospital stay. The health of patients is in the safe hands of a highly qualified team consisting of pulmonologists, intensive care specialists, and pulmonary rehabilitation specialists. Doctors strictly adhere to current clinical protocols and give priority to the most sparing treatment. Hence, they primarily consider options such as drug therapy, oxygen therapy, respiratory exercises, etc. Endoscopic procedures on the organs of the respiratory system are performed in compliance with hygiene and safety standards. Pain management can also be provided if required.

The Department of Thoracic Surgery provides effective surgical treatment for the full range of lung conditions and chest organ diseases, with the exception of heart pathologies. The team of surgeons specializes in operations for lung cancer, pleural mesothelioma, pleurisy, pneumothorax, pleural empyema, traumatic chest injuries, and chest malformations. Many operations are performed using minimally invasive techniques, which contribute to a shorter hospital stay and faster patient recovery. The department has more than 20 years of experience in the field of minimally invasive interventions on chest organs, so patients can count on the high professionalism of specialists and the best treatment results. The department's thoracic surgeons cooperate closely with pulmonologists, and during the treatment of cancer, oncologists, radiation therapists, radiologists, and other specialists are actively involved in the therapeutic process. Prior to the operation, the patient is fully informed about the peculiarities of the upcoming surgical procedure, the period of postoperative recovery, and possible risks. During the treatment, great importance is attached not only to the provision of top-class medical care but also to the comfort and psychological support of the patients.

The Department of Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology specializes in the treatment of the full range of pathologies of the eye and its appendages. The medical facility is one of the largest and best Eye Centers in northern Germany. Many modern conservative and surgical treatment methods are practiced in the department. The team of the department's ophthalmologists treats patients of all age groups, from young children to the elderly. The priority clinical focuses of the department's medical team include the treatment of cataracts, glaucoma, corneal, eyelid, and macular diseases. The department's specialists also successfully perform corneal transplants. Of particular interest in the field of pediatric ophthalmology is the provision of medical care to young patients with retinopathy of prematurity. The department's doctors have state-of-the-art diagnostic rooms where patients undergo examinations to assess visual acuity, eye biomicroscopy, refractometry, tonometry, perimetry, ultrasound scans, optical coherence tomography, and other diagnostic procedures. The department also excels in the field of laser eye surgery. The specialists approach each problem with eye vision with great responsibility and strive to avoid surgery whenever possible. However, when surgical intervention is required, they use sparing surgical techniques. The goal of the department's ophthalmologists is to rid the patient of pathology and give them the opportunity to see the world in bright colors.

The Department of Obstetrics offers the full range of medical services in the area of its specialization and is a Level I Perinatal Center. The department's team of obstetricians provides comprehensive management of pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care for mother and baby. The department houses a Section for Prenatal Diagnostics and Fetal Surgery. This section has state-of-the-art equipment, thanks to which doctors can detect the slightest deviations in the fetus at the stage of intrauterine development. If there is any threat to the pregnancy or any risk to the health of the fetus, the expectant mother can immediately receive the necessary treatment. For example, obstetricians perform transvaginal cervical cerclage to keep the cervix closed and lower the risk of premature births. The department's specialists regularly deal with multiple and high-risk pregnancies, so they have the necessary experience and competence to provide patients with effective medical care. Childbirth takes place in comfortable delivery rooms equipped in compliance with international standards. It is important for obstetricians to provide a woman with painless childbirth, so pain management is widely used here, including homeopathy, acupuncture, kinesiology taping, etc.

The Department of Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology offers the full range of medical services in the areas of its specialization. The department's medical team, consisting of more than 50 employees, performs high-precision imaging examinations, including X-ray, mammography, angiography, myelography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The results of diagnostic examinations are stored in the picture archiving and communication system (PACS), so the department's doctors and specialists from other departments of the hospital have unhindered access to the images. Whenever required, the patient can receive a disc with their diagnostic results. An integral part of the department's clinical practice is the interventional treatment of vascular diseases, including cerebrovascular conditions, oncological diseases, and chronic back pain. Interventional procedures are performed under imaging guidance, which ensures the high safety of the treatment. In most cases, they are carried out under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. The department’s specialists devote enough time to consulting patients and talking in detail about how this or that therapeutic manipulation will be performed. Hygiene and safety standards are strictly observed in the department's operating rooms.

The Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery offers all the possibilities of modern medicine for the diagnostics and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. The department's medical team focuses on patients with osteoarthritis of large joints, benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors, arm, leg, and pelvic fractures, as well as spinal fractures. The department's doctors regularly perform arthroplasty to replace small and large joints. The specialists perform hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and big toe joint replacement surgery. Surgical interventions for partial and total joint replacement are performed using minimally invasive techniques. The department also successfully performs arthroscopic joint surgery, for example, for cruciate ligament tears, meniscus injuries, and hip impingement syndrome. The department's medical team also performs cartilage transplantation. The procedure ensures excellent results and, in many cases, allows patients to avoid joint replacement surgery. The department has a specialized unit for treating patients with bone fractures, soft tissue injuries, and sports injuries, where a team of experienced doctors is on duty round the clock.

The Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology provides the full range of diagnostics and treatment for diseases of the urinary system in women and men, as well as pathologies of the male reproductive system. The department offers the services of a qualified team of pediatric urologists specializing in medical care for young patients with congenital and acquired diseases of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and genitalia in boys. The department's medical team, which includes world-renowned specialists, treats urologic diseases of any complexity, ranging from kidney stone disease, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and up to congenital urologic diseases. The department's doctors are highly skilled in minimally invasive surgery. They also successfully practice laser therapy. A particular focus of the department's clinical practice is on surgical interventions using the da Vinci surgical system. These surgical procedures provide excellent treatment results but, at the same time, are minimally traumatic. Surgery with the da Vinci surgical system is most often performed for prostate and kidney cancer. The focus of the department's doctors is the patient and their individual needs and wishes. The priority here is personalized and sparing treatment.

The Department of Oncology and Hematology provides the full range of medical services for patients with malignant solid tumors and malignant pathologies of the hematopoietic system. The main areas of specialization include the treatment of colon, stomach, lung, liver, pancreatic, and female and male reproductive system cancers. The doctors have vast experience treating patients with leukemias, lymphomas, and plasmacytomas. The department's oncologists use in their work modern and highly effective treatment methods such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, antibody therapy, hormone therapy, and others. In many cases, patients with cancer require surgery, for which surgeons are responsible. Palliative care is available for patients with terminal cancers, and experienced psycho-oncologists regularly hold group and individual sessions. In cooperation with radiologists, the department's oncologists perform innovative image-guided therapeutic procedures, including transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), embolization, ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation, and chemosaturation. The department is certified by the German Cancer Society (DKG). This certificate is an indicator of excellent medical care provided to patients with oncological diseases.