Department of Colorectal Surgery - DKD HELIOS Clinic Wiesbaden

About the Department of Colorectal Surgery at DKD HELIOS Clinic Wiesbaden

The Department of Colorectal Surgery at the DKD HELIOS Clinic Wiesbaden specializes in all modern surgical interventions for the treatment of rectal, anal and colon diseases. The medical facility began its work in 1972, and therefore it has rich traditions and colossal experience, which allows finding optimal solutions even in the most difficult clinical situations. The area of ​​competence of the department's doctors includes the treatment of hemorrhoids, anal fistulas, fissures and abscesses, fecal incontinence, chronic constipation, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and many other pathologies. The department's specialists prefer sparing minimally invasive surgery. In addition, the department successfully performs laser surgical interventions and the innovative STARR procedure – stapled transanal rectal resection. The optimal type of surgical intervention is selected for each patient individually, after a thorough diagnostic examination and assessment of the effectiveness and risks of all therapeutic methods. Minor surgical interventions can be performed outpatiently, which eliminates the need for a hospital stay. After the operation, the patient receives quality care and undergoes follow-up examinations to assess the treatment outcomes. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Nils Habbe.

The successful treatment of any disease is possible only with the comprehensive examination and an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, the department is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. The diagnostic rooms of the department serve for the diagnostic tests to assess the functions of the rectum and colon, identify the causes of fecal incontinence and impaired bowel emptying, detect benign and malignant colon tumors. The specialists also perform preventive colonoscopy to check for chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).

After studying diagnostic results, doctors start planning treatment. At the initial stages of proctological diseases, the department's specialists often achieve good results using conservative methods (drug therapy), but usually patients seek medical help only at the advanced stages of proctological disease, when the only effective treatment is surgery. Due to the constant updating of surgical equipment in the operating rooms and advanced training of doctors, the department can offer the very latest surgical techniques. For many years, the department's surgeons have successfully performed minimally invasive surgery, which allows minimizing trauma to healthy tissues during the treatment and facilitates postoperative recovery. In addition, such operations are associated with a low risk of complications and mild pain in the postoperative period.

The department performs transanal endoscopic microsurgery to remove rectal polyps and small tumors. When treating rectal diseases, doctors often use laser technologies. Such therapeutic procedures are highly safe for the patient, while their effectiveness is in no way inferior to classical surgery. It is worth noting that the department's surgeons offer the innovative STARR surgical technique for the treatment of rectal emptying disorders associated with rectocele. The doctors use a surgical approach through the anus. The prolapsed section of the rectal wall is resected using a special stapler. The device provides instant tissue removal and connection of the incision edges with small titanium staples. The patients usually tolerate this surgery well, without severe pain. Typically, the hospitalization period after theSTARR surgery does not exceed 2-3 days.

The department's range of medical services includes:

• Diagnostics
  • Comprehensive proctological examination with functional diagnostics
  • Special set of diagnostic examinations to identify the causes of fecal incontinence
  • Functional diagnostics of the colon
  • Diagnostics of benign and malignant colon tumors
  • Colonoscopy, including polyp removal
• Treatment
  • Pelvic floor surgery for rectal prolapse, fecal incontinence
  • Rectal resection with sphincter preservation (including transanal access) for rectal prolapse
  • Transanal endoscopic microsurgery and classical surgery for rectal polyp removal
  • Organ-preserving surgery for chronic inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease)
  • Surgery for the formation of an intestinal stoma and its closure
  • Transanal rectal surgery using the STARR (stapled transanal rectal resection) technique
  • Gentle minimally invasive surgery
  • Laser surgery (NdYag laser)
  • Rectal sphincter reconstruction or replacement
  • Sacral nerve stimulation for neurogenic defecation disorders
  • Surgery for anal fistula removal followed by plastic repair
  • Stapled hemorrhoidopexy (Longo procedure)
  • Bipolar hemorrhoids coagulation with the LigaSure device 
  • Laparoscopic minimally invasive catheter placement for peritoneal dialysis (continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis)
  • Biofeedback for anal sphincter weakness
  • Rubber band ligation for hemorrhoids (on an outpatient basis)
• Other diagnostic and therapeutic options