Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Beta Clinic Bonn

About the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Beta Clinic Bonn

The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Beta Clinic Bonn offers the full range of modern diagnostics and treatment for patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and biliary tract. Of particular interest is the treatment of functional disorders of the digestive organs, metabolic disorders, and gastrointestinal malignant tumors. The department's doctors have state-of-the-art equipment for high-precision examinations, including endoscopic equipment. The specialists at the medical facility regularly perform diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures, demonstrating excellent results. Patients most often receive medical care on an outpatient basis, but, if necessary, treatment may be provided on an inpatient basis. The department's team of gastroenterologists closely cooperates with specialists from related medical fields, such as abdominal surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists. The department strictly meets current clinical protocols, so patients can count on effective and safe treatment. The department is headed by Dr. med. Peter Lüsebrink.

The department admits patients with various gastrointestinal diseases. The most common of these include gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, diverticular disease, and inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease). Of particular interest to the department's specialists is the provision of medical care to patients with benign and malignant gastrointestinal neoplasms. In addition, the department's team of doctors specializes in the treatment of liver pathologies, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, steatohepatitis, gallstone disease, cholangitis, cholecystitis, etc.

The department's specialists are convinced that high-quality diagnostics allow them to provide optimal treatment. Gastroenterologists therefore pay special attention to a comprehensive examination that includes studying the patient's medical history, carrying out laboratory tests, ultrasound scans (CT and/or MRI scans can also be performed if required), and endoscopic examinations. Today, endoscopy is an indispensable and most informative diagnostic method in gastroenterology. Gastroscopy is one of the most requested diagnostic procedures in the department. The examination allows doctors to assess the condition of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum from the inside using a gastroscope, which is inserted through the mouth. Gastroscopy may be indicated for patients with chronic abdominal pain, heartburn, belching, a bitter taste in the mouth, nausea and vomiting, a lack of appetite, sudden weight loss, etc. During the diagnostic procedure, the doctor may detect polyps in the stomach, stenosis, bleeding, or other pathological changes. As a rule, in such cases, the specialist immediately performs the necessary therapeutic manipulations.

The team of the department's doctors has successful experience in endoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. For example, esophageal or colon stent implantation is often performed here. Stent implantation is most often necessary for stenosis caused by cancer. The essence of the procedure is the implantation of a stent (a special metal structure resembling a frame) into the area of narrowing or obstruction in the esophagus or colon and its placement in the required position. At the final stage of the procedure, the stent opens, thereby eliminating the stenosis. The therapeutic manipulation takes about 1 hour and is usually carried out in a state of medical sleep so that the patient does not experience any pain or discomfort. The results of endoscopic treatment for gastrointestinal stenoses are comparable to those of surgery, while the method excludes tissue dissection and is absolutely safe for the patient.

The department performs many other endoscopic therapeutic procedures, including the removal of benign and malignant neoplasms of the digestive organs, the removal of bile duct stones, the removal of foreign bodies from the digestive tract, the arrest of bleeding (hemostasis), and probing procedures for enteral nutrition.

The first-line treatment for liver disease is the intake of individually prescribed drugs. The department's doctors most often combine hepatoprotectors, choleretics, and cholelitholytic agents. An important role is also played by lifestyle modifications: the exclusion of fatty and fried foods from the diet, the refusal of alcohol, smoking cessation, etc. In complex cases, surgery may be required. A treatment regimen is developed for each patient individually, based on his clinical case.

The department's range of diagnostic and therapeutic services includes:

• Diagnostics
  • Advanced laboratory diagnostics, including blood, urine, and stool tests
  • Breath tests
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Ultrasound scans and ultrasound-guided punctures
  • Cancer screening
  • Comprehensive differential diagnostics for detecting the causes of abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, nausea, weight loss, heartburn, and blood in the stool
  • Endoscopic examinations
    • Gastroscopy
    • Colonoscopy
    • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
    • Capsule endoscopy
• Treatment
  • Drug therapy
  • Endoscopic therapeutic procedures
    • Removal of gastrointestinal tumors
    • Removal of bile duct stones
    • Removal of foreign bodies from the gastrointestinal tract
    • Stent implantation for esophageal and colon stenosis
    • Hemostasis (arrest of internal bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract) with the help of special clips, drug injections, and ligation
    • Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
• Other medical services