Academic Hospital Cologne-Merheim - Departments

The Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology, Nuclear Medicine offers the full range of services in these areas. The department uses state-of-the-art medical equipment, such as a high-performance SOMATOM Definition Flash CT scanner, a biplane angiography system, several ultramodern MRI and CT systems, including a 1.5 Tesla scanner for the whole body imaging. The results of the diagnostic tests are stored in a special picture archiving and communication system. All departments of the hospital have access to this system.

The Department of Adult and Pediatric Ophthalmology offers the full range of medical services for the diagnostics and treatment of eye diseases in patients of all age groups. To provide optimal medical care, the department has special ambulatories and progressive operating rooms with all necessary equipment, including microscopes and laser devices. The department operates an Eye Bank, which allows the patients to receive suitable donor material as soon as possible.

The Department of Gastroenterology offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for the patients with disorders of the digestive system (esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and bowel), including functional gastrointestinal disorders. Of particular interest to the medical team of the department is the treatment of cancers, particularly bowel cancer, within the specialized center in the department. The department also includes the Endoscopy Unit, which performs diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures.

The Department of Thoracic Surgery, Pulmonology, Pulmonary Oncology, Somnology and Respiratory Medicine offers the full range of medical services in these fields. The department provides the highly accurate diagnostics and modern treatment of all diseases of the thoracic organs, with the exception of the heart. One of the department's primary focuses is lung cancer treatment, which is provided within the specialized center certified in accordance with the standards of the German Cancer Society. The department also includes the Weaning Center, the activities of which are certified by the German Society for Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine.

The Department of Nephrology, Transplantation Medicine and Internal Intensive Care offers the full range of modern diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for patients with kidney diseases, including kidney lesions caused by hypertension and autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, Wegener's granulomatosis, etc.). The department's specialists conduct all types of renal replacement therapy. The department has 80 beds for inpatient treatment. The transplant program of the department involves close cooperation with the Transplant Center Cologne, which in turn cooperates with the University Hospital Cologne. The center is one of the largest German medical facilities, which actively perform kidney transplantations. When performing transplantations, the department's specialists cooperate with experts from the Department of Abdominal, Vascular and Transplant Surgery.

The Department of Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery offers the full range of progressive surgical treatment of diseases, malformations and injuries of the brain, spinal cord, spine and peripheral nerves. The surgical interventions are performed in high-tech operating rooms equipped with navigation systems to prevent damage to the brain and spinal cord, operating microscopes, an intraoperative X-ray device, electrophysiological monitoring systems, fluorescent navigation devices with 5-aminolevulinic acid and other necessary medical equipment.

According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Neurology ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in multiple sclerosis treatment! The department offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients with pathological changes in the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscular system. 80 beds are available for hospitalization. The department's specialists annually treat more than 3,000 inpatients with neurological diseases of varying severity.

According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Hand Surgery and Burn Surgery ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in plastic and reconstructive interventions! The department offers the full range of modern surgical services in the areas of its specialization. The specialized Section for Plastic and Reconstructive Maxillofacial Surgery is also available here. The department has been carrying out its successful clinical activities since 1970 and is one of the first specialized German medical facilities in the field of plastic surgery. The clinical practice involves the use of only the very latest and proven surgical techniques, as they allow the specialists to achieve the optimal result, including aesthetic aspects.

The Department of Radiation Therapy offers all types of modern radiation therapy at the highest level. The department has two high-power Elekta Synergy linear accelerators and a device for the therapy using afterloading technique. The irradiation regimen is planned using Toshiba Aquilion Large Bore computed tomography scanner with the gantry aperture of 90 cm. The combined chemoradiation therapy can also be carried out in collaboration with relevant specialists. In most cases, radiation therapy is performed on an outpatient basis, without obligatory hospitalization. The team of the department's doctors strictly adheres to all radiation protection standards.

According to the reputable Focus magazine, the Department of Orthopedics, Traumatology and Sports Traumatology ranks among the best medical facilities in Germany specializing in knee and hip replacement surgery, as well as in the treatment of injuries of varying severity! The department offers the full range of medical services in these medical fields. It has innovative treatments, state-of-the-art equipment and highly professional staff, which forms a solid foundation for the successful clinical practice. Despite technical progress and automation of many clinical processes, the focus of the attention of the department’s doctors is on the patient, his individual needs and wishes.

The Department of Abdominal, Vascular and Transplant Surgery offers the full range of surgical treatment in its areas of specialization. The department is a maximum care clinic, so its surgeons successfully perform all types of classic open and sparing minimally invasive operations. Since February 2013, the department enjoys the status of the Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Surgery (certificate of the German Society for General and Abdominal Surgery). Of particular interest to the surgeons of the department are surgical treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, hernia repair surgery, vascular interventions, liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation, as well as bariatric interventions for morbid obesity.

The Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Diabetology offers all the options of modern medicine in these fields. The department specializes in the interventional treatment of heart valve pathologies, diagnostics and treatment of arrhythmias, emergency care in acute coronary syndrome, non-invasive methods of cardiovascular imaging, diagnostics and treatment of vascular diseases, as well as the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The clinical activities of the department's competent team of doctors are based on the use of innovative treatment methods and an individual approach to each patient, which contributes to excellent results.