Department of Gynecology, Mammology and Obstetrics (371103)

About the Department of Gynecology, Mammology and Obstetrics at St. Elisabethen Hospital Lörrach

The Department of Gynecology, Mammology and Obstetrics at the St. Elisabethen Hospital Lörrach provides the full range of top-class medical services in the areas of its specialization. The department's patients can undergo preventive examinations, comprehensive diagnostics and treatment of various diseases of the female reproductive system. The department offers the services of a specialized Breast Center, which deals with the treatment of breast diseases, while a special focus is on cancer therapy. An integral part of the department's work is the provision of obstetric services – the medical facility has the status of a Level I Perinatal Center. Obstetricians cooperate closely with neonatologists, so if any complications develop during or after childbirth, newborns receive the necessary medical care. The department admits more than 4,000 inpatients and performs about 2,500 surgical interventions. More than 2,300 children are born in the department every year. The department has 60 beds for patient hospitalization. All conditions for highly effective treatment in a comfortable environment are created here. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Michael Bohlmann. He is a competent specialist with long experience and excellent treatment results.

In the field of gynecology, the department's specialists carry out diagnostics and treatment of all diseases of the female reproductive system. Of particular interest is the treatment of female genital cancer: uterine, cervical, endometrial, ovarian and vulvar cancers. Women with benign and inflammatory gynecologic diseases can also receive medical care here. To treat gynecologic diseases, especially malignant ones, a surgical intervention is often required. The department's team of doctors widely uses low traumatic laparoscopic surgical techniques that provide rapid recovery and minimal pain. In addition, minimally invasive operations guarantee a good aesthetic result. The department's doctors also have vast experience in chemotherapy for female reproductive cancers.

The department's therapeutic options are complemented by conservative and surgical procedures for urinary incontinence as well as pelvic organ prolapse. After the diagnostics, each patient is prescribed a customized therapy, taking into account the particular clinical situation. In 85% of cases, properly selected therapy helps the patient to completely get rid of the problem or to achieve an improvement in the patient's condition. The department's gynecologists often manage to achieve good results in the treatment of urinary incontinence without resorting to surgery. Drug therapy, injection therapy, special therapeutic exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, electrical stimulation, and pessary therapy are used as conservative methods. Surgery is performed only in cases where conservative treatment options have exhausted their effectiveness. Pelvic organ prolapse is corrected with the use of low traumatic surgical reconstructive techniques.

In the field of mammology, the full range of breast diseases are diagnosed and treated. One of the most important focuses of work is breast cancer therapy – the department has been certified by the German Cancer Society and the German Society of Senology. As part of the Cancer Center Lörrach-Rheinfelden, the department offers effective breast cancer treatment that meets high international standards. Optimal treatment tactics are developed at interdisciplinary tumor boards with the participation of gynecologists, oncologists, radiologists, radiation therapists and other specialists. In severe clinical cases, doctors from other medical facilities are engaged in the therapeutic process. As a rule, an integral part of the treatment regimen is surgery for malignant tumor resection. The department's specialists strive to perform breast-conserving surgery. If the patient requires a mastectomy (breast removal), it is followed by reconstructive surgery to restore an attractive appearance of the breasts. The competence of the department's breast specialists also includes breast augmentation and reduction surgery for medical reasons. The health facility is rightly proud of its vast experience in the treatment of gynecomastia in men.

A separate area of work of the department is obstetrics. In this medical field, women are provided with high-quality care before, during and after childbirth. The department was awarded the title of the Level I Perinatal Center for the excellent quality of services. Its specialists have unique experience and expert knowledge in the management of high-risk pregnancies. The department has six delivery rooms with a certain design and color scheme. The furnishings of each room include a wide maternity bed, a stool, a special rope, a ball and other supplies. Some rooms also have a bath for water birth. The Intensive Care Unit for newborns is located in close proximity to the delivery rooms, which guarantees immediate care for the baby. Obstetricians support expectant mothers and help them to find the optimal position for childbirth. The department also has special family rooms where the father can spend time with the mother and the newborn.

The department's range of medical services includes:

• Gynecology
  • Diagnostics and treatment of benign and malignant female genital diseases
  • Diagnostics and treatment of inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system 
  • Diagnostics and treatment of urinary incontinence
  • Diagnostics and treatment of pelvic organ prolapse in women
• Mammology
  • Breast-conserving surgery
  • Primary and secondary breast reconstruction
  • (Axillary) sentinel lymph node biopsy 
  • Axillary lymph node removal (axillary dissection)
  • Breast augmentation and reduction for medical reasons
  • Surgery to remove enlarged mammary glands in men (gynecomastia)
  • Pain management
  • Psycho-oncological care
• Obstetrics
  • Comprehensive management of pregnancy, including high-risk pregnancies
  • Childbirth: natural childbirth, water birth, C-section
  • Postpartum care for mother and baby
• Other medical services