Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - ISAR Hospital Munich

About the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at ISAR Hospital Munich

The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the ISAR Hospital Munich offers the full range of medical services in its areas of expertise. The department diagnoses and treats diseases of the stomach, esophagus, all parts of the intestine, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, rectum, and liver, with special emphasis on the treatment of oncological diseases. Great importance is attached to comprehensive treatment that takes into account the individual needs and wishes of the patient, with priority given to the use of the latest diagnostic and treatment methods in accordance with modern medical standards. The department has a well-developed direction of endoscopic diagnostics and treatment. It also has advanced ultrasound equipment and facilities for functional diagnostics of the gastrointestinal tract. The specialists of the medical institution annually perform more than 5,400 gastroscopy and colonoscopy procedures, as well as more than 2,600 ultrasound scans. The high professionalism of the department's doctors and outstanding treatment results deserve special attention. The specialists work hand in hand with abdominal surgeons, which is especially important in the case of gastrointestinal cancers. The department is headed by PD Dr. med. Holger Seidl.

The department has a wealth of experience in providing medical care for patients with colon diseases. Of particular interest is the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal polyps, which can potentially lead to cancer. This can be prevented by diagnostic colonoscopy, an endoscopic method of examining the inner surface of the intestine with a special device (a colonoscope). For maximum patient comfort, the diagnostic procedure is performed under sedation. If polyps are detected, the department's doctors immediately resect them using polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, or endoscopic submucosal dissection. To remove large intestinal polyps, the specialists in the department use laser techniques or full-thickness resection with the innovative FTRD device. In some cases, colon cancer is diagnosed based on the results of a colonoscopy. In such situations, abdominal surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and other specialists from related medical specialties are involved in the therapeutic process. The medical team jointly develops the optimal treatment regimen: in early stages, resection of the malignant neoplasm is sufficient, while in advanced stages, surgery is required, supplemented by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other treatments.

The department's team of gastroenterologists also excels in the treatment of many other intestinal diseases, including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, diverticular disease, and fecal incontinence. The first-line treatment for the above conditions is medication, but when this fails, doctors recommend endoscopic procedures.

An important area of ​​the work of the department's gastroenterologists is the diagnosis and treatment of gastritis, stomach ulcers, and stomach cancer. If gastritis or a stomach ulcer is suspected, the department's doctors perform a series of laboratory tests, gastroscopy, and endosonography. The basis of treatment is drug therapy in combination with a diet. The department also treats patients with stomach cancer, which is one of the most common oncological diseases in the world. The key focus is on prevention. To this end, the department performs gastroscopy, an endoscopic examination that allows visual inspection of the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. An early stage stomach malignancy can be removed with an endoscopic therapeutic procedure. In the advanced stages of stomach cancer, surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy is required.

The medical facility also offers services in the field of hepatology. Doctors of this specialty diagnose and treat liver diseases such as benign and malignant tumors, cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc. Many patients with liver cirrhosis seek medical help from the department. This is a chronic, progressive disease in which liver tissue is replaced by non-functional connective tissue. The main manifestations of the disease are increased fatigue, lack of appetite, weight loss, itching, yellowing of the skin, bloating, and swelling of the lower extremities. The classic diagnostic protocol for suspected liver cirrhosis includes laboratory tests, portal vein Doppler ultrasound, gastroscopy, liver elastography, CT and/or MRI, and an ultrasound-guided liver biopsy. If the diagnosis is confirmed, a personalized drug treatment regimen is developed, and a diet is prescribed. The specialists' task is to eliminate the cause of the disease, stop the symptoms, slow down the pathological process, and prevent the development of complications. In the advanced stages of cirrhosis of the liver, serious complications may occur, such as ascites, portal hypertension, liver cancer, hepatic encephalopathy or esophageal varices. The department's doctors have the necessary resources to effectively treat complications of cirrhosis.

The department's range of medical services includes the following:

• Gastroenterology
  • Diagnostics and treatment of colon diseases
    • Colon polyps
    • Chronic inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
    • Gastrointestinal bleeding
    • Irritable bowel syndrome
    • Chronic constipation
    • Diarrhea
    • Diverticular disease
    • Colon cancer
  • Diagnostics and treatment of stomach diseases
    • Gastritis
    • Stomach ulcers
    • Stomach cancer
  • Diagnostics and treatment of esophageal diseases
    • Gastroesophageal reflux disease
    • Esophageal cancer
  • Diagnostics and treatment of pancreatic diseases
    • Pancreatitis
    • Pancreatic cancer
  • Diagnostics and treatment of rectal diseases
    • Hemorrhoids
    • Anal fistulas
    • Anal abscesses
    • Fecal incontinence
• Hepatology
  • Diagnostics and treatment of liver diseases
    • Benign liver tumors
    • Liver cancer
    • Cirrhosis
    • Hepatitis
  • Diagnostics and treatment of gallbladder and bile duct diseases
    • Gallstone disease
    • Biliary colic
    • Cholecystitis
    • Cholangiocarcinoma
• Other medical services