HELIOS University Hospital Wuppertal - Departments

The Department of Neurology and Epileptology provides the full range of medical services to patients suffering from diseases of the nervous system, including epilepsy. The department has a Stroke Unit certified by the German Stroke Society (DSG), which annually provides medical care to about 1,000 stroke patients. The department's medical team also specializes in the treatment of neuromuscular diseases, dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dizziness, chronic headaches and diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Patients with neuro-ophthalmic pathologies are admitted in cooperation with ophthalmologists. The department is equipped with advanced diagnostic rooms for a comprehensive examination of the nervous system – they have modern systems for electroencephalography, recording of evoked potentials, electromyography, neurography, Doppler sonography and other diagnostic tests. The treatment is based on pharmacotherapy. The department's doctors have long clinical experience, and therefore they successfully select the optimal treatment regimen that allows the patient to recover as much as possible.

The Department of Nuclear Medicine offers all types of modern diagnostics and treatment using radioisotopes. The main diagnostic method available in the department is PET-CT (positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography). This technique is most often used to detect cancers. PET-CT is also used to diagnose neurological and cardiac diseases. The procedure allows doctors not only to visualize anatomical structures of the human body, but also to assess the metabolic activity of a particular tissue. The department's therapeutic offer includes radioiodine therapy for the treatment of thyroid diseases, radioimmunotherapy for CD20-positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and pain management using radioactive drugs. Treatment can be both inpatient and outpatient – the optimal regimen is selected by the attending physician individually. Radioiodine therapy is carried out exclusively on an inpatient basis. The patients of the department receive medical care from the highly professional team of doctors, who make every effort to provide them with top-class services.

The Department of Radiation Therapy offers the full range of irradiation procedures for benign and malignant diseases. The department has advanced equipment and highly qualified personnel, which allows providing patients with medical services meeting the highest international standards. The department's specialists have two Varian linear accelerators with a built-in CT scanner with a conical beam and RapidArc technology, Siemens Somatom Definition AS CT scanner for radiation therapy planning, Varian GammaMed iX system for contact radiation therapy using the afterloading technique, Zeiss IntraBeam X-ray therapy device for intraoperative radiation therapy for breast cancer, X-Strahl 200 X-ray therapy device, Varian device for precise positioning of patients before radiation therapy and other equipment. State-of-the-art equipment guarantees high-precision irradiation with minimal damage to healthy tissues. Cancer treatment is of particular interest to the team of the department's radiation therapists. In addition, the department's specialists successfully carry out irradiation for inflammatory joint diseases with severe pain syndrome. The doctors of the medical facility cooperate closely with oncologists and other doctors of related specialties.

According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Phlebology ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in the treatment of skin diseases! The department offers the full range of medical services in the fields of its competence. The primary focus of the department's clinical practice is on skin cancer treatment provided within the framework of a specialized center certified by the German Cancer Society (DKG). The department's dermatologists also deal with the diagnostics and treatment of patients with autoimmune skin diseases, photodermatosis, allergic skin manifestations, and venous diseases. The department offers a variety of cosmetic procedures, including invasive ones, for skin improvement and rejuvenation. The first-line treatment is usually pharmacotherapy, laser procedures, phototherapy, and other conservative treatments. Nevertheless, specialists often have to resort to surgical interventions, which are performed in two operating rooms equipped with the very latest technology. Depending on the complexity of the clinical case, both inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures are performed in the medical facility. The team of the department's doctors works in accordance with the current clinical protocols and has all the necessary resources to provide high-quality medical care.

The Department of Interventional Radiology specializes in the full range of minimally invasive image-guided interventions for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Diagnostic interventional procedures allow obtaining tissue samples for further laboratory tests. Most minimally invasive interventional procedures are performed for the treatment of vascular obstruction or stenosis, as well as for tumor destruction. The surgeon inserts special catheters and/or probes through small skin punctures. All surgical procedures are performed under image guidance – X-ray, digital subtraction angiography, ultrasound, CT, MRI. The specialist can clearly see all the anatomical structures and a pathological focus, thanks to which he accurately controls the delivery of the catheter to the required site and all subsequent manipulations. It is worth noting that the department was awarded the quality certificate of the German Society for Interventional Radiology (DeGIR) in 2018, which guarantees effective treatment in accordance with modern medical standards. The department's doctors have the necessary skills and qualifications, which allow them to select the best treatment option for each patient and ensure its successful conduction.

The Department of Neuroradiology provides the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services in the areas of ​​its specialization. The team of the department's doctors deals with the diagnostics and treatment of brain and spinal cord pathologies. The department has at its disposal state-of-the-art medical equipment, including systems for CT, MRI and myelography, thanks to which specialists can comprehensively assess the state of the nervous system, detect pathological processes at the initial stages and provide effective treatment. Among the department's therapeutic options, a special focus is on the interventional treatment of acute stroke – thrombectomy. Another important focus of the specialists' work is the treatment of cerebral vascular malformations, stenosis of the arteries of the brain and spinal cord, and cerebral aneurysms. In addition, the department provides CT-guided interventional pain management to relieve chronic back pain. The department's neuroradiologists cooperate closely with doctors from the related medical specialties: neurologists, neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists and radiation therapists. The specialists strive to provide each patient with high quality medical care meeting his needs and wishes.

According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Cardiology ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases! The department offers the full range of services in the field of modern cardiology – from clarifying diagnostics and restoration of patency of coronary vessels to implantation of artificial heart valves. The department has four cardiac catheterization laboratories, as well as a hybrid operating room. The department offers modern and proven catheter techniques (for example, TAVI, MitraClip, and others) for the treatment of cardiac pathologies. The hybrid operating room combines a cardiac surgical operating room with a fully equipped 150 sq.m. cardiac catheterization laboratory, which was commissioned in 2012. The hybrid operating room allows applying the widest range of techniques, ranging from the treatment of aortic valve stenosis to the treatment of acute coronary pathologies. The team of the department's doctors devotes enough time to consulting patients and examining the cardiovascular system in order to choose the optimal treatment tactics that will allow a person to restore health and lead a full life.

The Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology provides the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services to patients with kidney diseases, rheumatic pathologies and arterial hypertension. The department is certified in accordance with the standards of the German Society of Nephrology (DGfN), and therefore the quality of treatment is at the highest European level. The department operates an advanced Dialysis Center, whose specialists carry out all modern types of renal replacement therapy, including peritoneal dialysis and extracorporeal photopheresis. The Dialysis Center has 32 specially equipped beds for blood purification procedures. Its specialists carry out more than 8,000 renal replacement therapy procedures every year, so the department's doctors are deservedly proud of their successful experience in this field. In addition, the department has all the necessary resources for the diagnostics and treatment of kidney lesions caused by arterial hypertension. Nephrologists are also responsible for the care of patients before and after kidney transplant surgery. The department's rheumatologists pay special attention to the treatment of systemic diseases affecting the kidneys. The department's medical team prefers an individual approach to each patient and works in compliance with the latest clinical protocols.

The Department of Hematology and Oncology offers the full range of modern services for the treatment of malignant blood diseases and solid tumors of various localization. In the field of hematology, special attention is paid to the treatment of leukemias, lymphomas and myelodysplastic syndromes. The department's oncologists specialize in the treatment of breast, colon, pancreatic, lung cancers, as well as skin cancer, oncological diseases of the female and male reproductive system. Cancer is treated in accordance with modern medical standards, which is confirmed by the quality certificates of the German Cancer Society (DKG). The department's patients receive not only highly effective personalized treatment, but also attention to their personal needs and concerns. Whenever required, psycho-oncologists work with them to help overcome stress and gather strength to fight cancer. An interdisciplinary team of oncologists, surgeons, radiation therapists, chemotherapists, radiologists and other physicians takes care of the patients' health. The specialists meet on a weekly basis for a tumor board to individually consider each clinical case and plan the optimal treatment regimen.

The Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology offers the widest range of services in the areas of its specialization and is one of the largest medical facilities of this kind in Germany. The team of the department's doctors carries out high-precision diagnostics and effective treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and biliary tract, as well as endocrine glands. The department's therapeutic offer also includes the provision of medical care to patients with type I and II diabetes mellitus. The gastroenterologists of the medical facility have at their disposal a specialized Section for Endoscopy and Sonography, where they perform a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures: color and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography, liver elastography, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy, argon plasma coagulation, polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, biliary stricture balloon dilatation and others. In addition, the department has a Section for Gastrointestinal Functional Diagnostics. The department has 80 beds. The medical facility provides treatment to more than 4,800 inpatients every year, and many patients receive outpatient medical services.

The Department of Pulmonology offers the full range of medical services in the areas of its competence and specializes in the treatment of respiratory diseases. Particular attention is paid to the diagnostics and treatment of pneumonia, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, pleurisy, occupational lung diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The department is part of the Lung Cancer Center certified by the German Cancer Society (DKG), and therefore pulmonologists actively cooperate with thoracic surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, radiation therapists and other specialists. In addition, the department's doctors specialize in the treatment of allergic diseases, including bronchial asthma. The department is one of the few German medical facilities dealing with the treatment of patients with diseases caused by asbestos exposure. The department employs a highly professional team of doctors, for whom the health of patients and their needs are always in the first place. The medical facility uses thoroughly elaborated pharmacotherapy regimens, and in complex cases, artificial ventilation is carried out in specially equipped patient rooms. Patients receive medical care on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.

The Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Cardiology, Pulmonology and Traumatology, Neuropediatrics and Pediatric Epileptology offers all the possibilities of modern medicine for the diagnostics and treatment of young patients in the fields of its competence. The department provides medical care to children of all age groups – from infants to young children and adolescents. Together with the Department of Obstetrics, the medical facility forms the Level I Perinatal Center, which annually provides the necessary care to more than 60 premature babies, weighing less than 1500 g. The department's pediatricians often deal with the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, bladder, thyroid gland and nervous system, including epilepsy. Young patients with injuries of any severity receive high-quality emergency care that meets modern medical requirements. An important focus of the department's work is on the conservative treatment of lung and heart diseases in children. In addition, the department provides medical care to children with developmental delays and developmental disorders. Neurologists have vast experience in the treatment of epilepsy in young patients, and also have successful experience in the treatment of movement disorders, inflammatory diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, chronic headaches, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, congenital malformations of the brain and spinal cord. Depending on the particular clinical case, the treatment can be carried out both on an inpatient or outpatient basis. The medical facility has an excellent reputation and is awarded the prestigious quality certificate in the field of pediatrics in Germany – "Ausgezeichnet. Für Kinder!". Young patients and their parents can be confident that they will receive effective and safe treatment.

The Department of Neuropediatrics and Pediatric Epileptology offers top-class medical services for the diagnostics and treatment of diseases of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nervous system and muscles in children and adolescents. In addition, the department provides medical care to children with developmental delays and developmental disorders. Doctors have vast experience in the treatment of epilepsy in young patients, and also have successful experience in the treatment of movement disorders, inflammatory diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, chronic headaches, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, congenital malformations of the brain and spinal cord. To provide comprehensive medical care, the team of pediatric neurologists cooperates closely with specialists in the field of ophthalmology and otolaryngology, as well as with neurosurgeons and pediatric orthopedists. Prior to starting treatment, the department's specialists carry out a diagnostic examination, which makes it possible to assess the severity of the pathological process and choose the most effective treatment tactics. In the course of the therapeutic process, doctors use various pharmacotherapy regimens, psychological care, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, curative education and other methods that help eliminate a neurological disorder or control the pathology and improve the child's condition.

According to the Focus magazine, the Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Hernia Surgery, Colorectal Surgery ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in the surgical treatment of gallbladder and biliary tract pathologies! The team of the department's surgeons admits patients with benign and malignant gastrointestinal diseases, namely stomach, liver, esophageal, gallbladder and biliary tract, pancreatic, colon and rectal pathologies. The department also carries out treatment for all types of hernias – the medical facility has a quality certificate from the German Hernia Society (DHG). Of particular interest is the resection of malignant tumors of the digestive system. The department's operating rooms have state-of-the-art medical equipment, therefore, in most cases, surgeons can perform interventions without extensive incisions in the skin and soft tissues, but with the use of minimally invasive techniques. Such an approach to surgical treatment greatly facilitates the patient's postoperative recovery process, reduces the risk of complications and excludes severe pain syndrome. The department's surgeons cooperate closely with gastroenterologists, hepatologists, oncologists, radiologists and other doctors from related medical fields. Doctors demonstrate high treatment success rates, use advanced surgical techniques, and observe hygiene and safety standards. Patients can be sure that their health is in the safe hands of leading European specialists.

The Department of Thoracic Surgery offers the full range of modern surgical treatment of diseases of the lungs and other respiratory organs at the highest level of European medicine. A special field of competence of the department's thoracic surgeons is the resection of tumors and metastases in the lungs, trachea and thoracic wall. The department has the status of a certified Lung Cancer Center (certificate of the German Cancer Society, DKG), which confirms the exceptional quality and effectiveness of therapy. The specialists also perform modern interventions for inflammatory diseases and traumatic injuries of the respiratory organs, as well as thoracic malformations. The department's operating rooms have modern equipment that allows performing most surgical interventions using sparing surgical techniques – video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The department's doctors resort to open surgery only in rare cases. The surgeons make sure that the patient feels as comfortable as possible during the therapeutic process and are always ready to help with any issues.

According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Endocrine Surgery ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in the surgical treatment of thyroid diseases! The team of the department's surgeons performs the full range of surgical interventions for the treatment of diseases of endocrine glands – thyroid gland and parathyroid glands. The department was one of the first in North Rhine-Westphalia to receive the status of the Reference Center for Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery (certified by the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery, DGAV). The department is one of the few medical facilities in Germany that provides comprehensive thyroid cancer treatment using surgery and radioiodine therapy (in cooperation with specialists in nuclear medicine). In total, the department's endocrine surgeons annually perform more than 800 interventions for thyroid and parathyroid diseases, including malignant ones. Doctors are rightfully proud of their rich clinical experience, as well as regularly master innovative surgical techniques, which contributes to high treatment success rates.

The Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology provides the full range of services for the diagnostics and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. The department is certified as a supraregional Trauma Center, and therefore it admits patients with injuries of any severity and polytrauma. The priority fields of the department's clinical practice include joint replacement surgery, arthroscopic surgery, shoulder and elbow surgery, foot surgery, treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcomas, as well as treatment of infectious bone lesions (osteomyelitis), spinal injuries and diseases, including chronic back pain. The specialists of the medical facility prefer an individual approach to treatment and successfully apply it in their work. Each patient receives optimal treatment with the use of the very latest low-traumatic therapeutic techniques. During the diagnostics and treatment, doctors strictly observe hygiene and safety standards. The main goal of the medical team is to restore the musculoskeletal functions, which allow the patient to regain freedom of movement and lead a normal life.

The Department of Vascular Surgery specializes in the surgical treatment of vascular diseases. The focus of doctors is on such pathologies as carotid artery stenosis, obliterating endarteritis, abdominal aortic aneurysms, varicose veins, leg ulcers and chronic non-healing wounds caused by diabetic foot syndrome. The department has excellent diagnostic options for the detection of vascular pathologies – it offers state-of-the-art systems for Doppler ultrasound, duplex ultrasound, conventional angiography and CT angiography. The patients are provided with innovative endovascular techniques and methods of classical open surgery. The optimal treatment tactics are developed based on the patient's specific clinical indications and his wishes. Whenever possible, the department's specialists perform sparing endovascular treatment, while open surgery becomes an option of choice only in especially complex cases. The team of vascular surgeons is highly professional and does everything possible to provide the patient with the most effective treatment in a comfortable environment. The specialists cooperate with doctors from related medical fields, including neuroradiologists, diabetologists and other experts.

The Department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Adult and Pediatric Hand Surgery, Reconstructive Burn Surgery provides the full range of modern medical services in the areas of its specialization. The department performs many surgical interventions to improve the appearance, both with and without clinical indications – at the patient's own request. In addition to plastic surgery, the department offers effective non-interventional anti-aging procedures, including Botox, filler injections and others. An integral part of the clinical activity of the medical facility is the conservative and surgical treatment of various hand diseases, including hand malformations in children. The department's doctors specializing in reconstructive burn surgery deal with the treatment of adults and young patients with burn injuries. Surgeons perform high-quality plastic surgery to eliminate skin defects after burns. The department's operating rooms have advanced medical equipment, which, in combination with the exceptional professionalism of surgeons, allows doing miracles. The specialists make every effort to provide their patients with the desired result and to make them enjoy a full life without experiencing complexes due to their appearance.

The Department of Cardiac Surgery offers the full range of innovative surgical techniques for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, with the exception of heart transplantation. The priority focuses of the department's clinical activities include surgery for heart valve pathologies, coronary artery bypass grafting, artificial heart  implantation for heart failure treatment, pacemaker and defibrillator implantation for cardiac arrhythmia treatment, as well as surgical procedures on the thoracic aorta. The department's high-tech operating rooms have state-of-the-art equipment, due to which most surgical interventions are performed using sparing minimally invasive techniques, without connecting the patient to a heart-lung machine. Minimally traumatic operations allow the specialists of the medical facility not to open the thorax, which reduces the risks and shortens the period of postoperative recovery. Cardiac surgeons cooperate closely with cardiologists and anesthesiologists, so patients benefit from comprehensive medical care. In the course of the therapeutic process, the individual needs and wishes of the patient are necessarily taken into account, on the basis of which the optimal type of surgical intervention is selected.

According to the reputable Focus magazine, the Department of Urology ranks among the top German medical facilities in the field of its competence! The department's team of doctors specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of the full range of diseases of the kidneys, bladder, ureters and male reproductive system. The department's doctors focus on patients with urologic cancers: prostate cancer, testicular, bladder, kidney and adrenal cancers. The department's urologists quite often admit patients with benign urologic diseases, including benign prostatic hyperplasia, kidney stone disease, and urinary incontinence in women and men. The department boasts an excellent infrastructure, as it has an in-house X-ray unit, four state-of-the-art operating rooms for endoscopic procedures, and several operating rooms for open and minimally invasive surgery. In addition, the pride of the medical team is the most advanced da Vinci surgical system that allows performing low-traumatic operations for prostate, kidney, adrenal and bladder diseases. As of today, robot-assisted interventions are a breakthrough in surgery and are available only in the best European medical centers. With more than 3,600 inpatients every year, the department enjoys a reputation as the largest urology medical center in Germany and has everything necessary for high-quality treatment of urologic diseases of any severity.

The Department of Pediatric Urology offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services in the area of ​its ​specialization. The department's clinical activity is focused on providing medical care to young patients with penile and urethral malformations, testicular malformations, kidney and urinary tract diseases, as well as urinary incontinence, including at night. The planning of diagnostic measures and further treatment regimen is carried out in interdisciplinary cooperation – not only urologists work with children, but also pediatricians, radiologists and nuclear medicine specialists. With the results of the accurate preliminary diagnostics, doctors develop the most effective treatment regimen for the child, while choosing conservative methods, if possible. However, a congenital defect in the child mostly requires surgical repair. Urologic surgical procedures in children are often performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques, which reduces the trauma of treatment, thereby relieving the child and his parents from the fear of open surgery.

The Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Mammology offers high-precision diagnostics and many modern treatments for women's health restoration. The team of the department's doctors specializes in the treatment of the full range of diseases of the female reproductive system and breast. The department is rightfully proud of its status as a certified Gynecologic Cancer Center and a certified Breast Cancer Center of the German Cancer Society (DKG) – only the leading medical facilities in Germany receive certificates of this society, the level of which corresponds to modern standards of European medicine. In most cases, surgical treatment of gynecologic diseases is carried out using minimally invasive techniques, which are the standard of modern surgery. In the course of cancer treatment, oncologists, radiologists, radiation therapists and other specialists are involved in the therapeutic process. In cooperation with gynecologists, they develop an optimal treatment regimen for the patient. An integral part of the department's clinical practice is the provision of obstetric services. Expectant mothers are provided with integrated management of pregnancy and high-quality postpartum care. There are 5 modern delivery rooms equipped with everything necessary for a successful and safe childbirth. The department's medical team works for the benefit of its patients, and also does everything possible to meet the needs and wishes of women as much as possible.

The Department of Adult and Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery offers the full range of diagnostic services, conservative and surgical treatment of ENT diseases. In addition, the department provides treatment for head and neck malignancies (in interdisciplinary cooperation with highly qualified specialists). Medical care is provided to both adult patients and children of all age groups. In complex clinical cases, the treatment is carried out on an inpatient basis, but many diagnostic procedures, minor emergency and planned interventions are performed on an outpatient basis. The team of the department's doctors prefers the use of the most sparing treatment methods, and therefore most surgical procedures are performed using endoscopic and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Prior to starting treatment, the patient undergoes comprehensive diagnostics, based on the results of which the optimal treatment regimen is developed. The department's doctors are highly qualified professionals in their area of specialization and constantly improve their skills. Their main task is to restore the patient's health using advanced treatment methods.

The Department of Ophthalmology offers the full range of medical services for the diagnostics and treatment of diseases of the eye and its appendages. The department also carries out preventive visual acuity testing, the purpose of which is to prevent the development of visual loss or to detect it at the early stage, for example, in patients with diabetes mellitus. The department's specialists carry out both conservative treatment with the use of medications and surgical treatment using modern laser systems. Long clinical experience and the availability of state-of-the-art equipment in the medical facility allow the doctors to effectively restore vision even in the most complex clinical cases. The department's specialists focus on patients with cataracts, glaucoma, as well as on vitreous and retinal diseases. Prior to the treatment, the ophthalmologist holds a comprehensive consultation, during which he talks in detail about the features of the upcoming treatment, possible risks and the final result. In most cases, diagnostics and treatment are carried out on an outpatient basis – hospitalization and constant medical supervision are required only in complex clinical cases.

The Department of Interventional Radiology offers diagnostics and treatment of a wide range of diseases with the help of imaging-guided minimally invasive methods. The department specializes in interventional oncology, treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease, diseases of the digestive system, central nervous system, respiratory system, etc. The department has state-of-the-art equipment, including radiography, ultrasound, MRI and CT systems.