Diagnosis and conservative treatment of myxedema in Luisenhospital Aachen

About the department

The Department of Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Oncology and Hematology at the Luisenhospital Aachen specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of gastrointestinal, heart, and endocrine diseases, as well as cancer and hematopoietic diseases. The primary focus of the medical facility is to provide medical care to patients with gastrointestinal pathologies, including diseases of the stomach, large intestine, small intestine, and esophagus. The department's team of gastroenterologists offers the full range of endoscopic diagnostic and treatment options. The specialists work with state-of-the-art equipment, thanks to which patients can count on the high efficiency and safety of medical services. Of particular interest in cardiology is the treatment of coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart diseases, and arrhythmias. Drug therapy regimens and catheter-based techniques are widely used during the treatment course. The main focus of the department's endocrinologists is diabetes mellitus treatment. In the field of oncology, surgeons, radiation therapists, pulmonologists, and other specialists cooperate closely to elaborate an optimal treatment regimen for the patient. The department's oncologists most often treat patients with gastrointestinal and lung cancers. The department also admits patients with hematological diseases, including leukemias, lymphomas, and anemia. The department's team of doctors is known for its high professionalism and for showing understanding and a humane attitude toward the patients and their life situation. The Head Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Hermann Wasmuth.

The department's gastroenterologists are responsible for the diagnostics and treatment of patients with gastrointestinal diseases, such as peptic ulcers, gastritis, stomach polyps, bowel polyps, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), diverticular disease, benign and malignant tumors, stenosis, and obstructions caused by malignant diseases or other pathologies. The department is part of the Colon Cancer Center Aachen, which is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 standards. Interdisciplinary tumor boards are held here on a weekly basis, where gastroenterologists, oncologists, surgeons, and radiation therapists cooperatively study the patient's diagnostic results and plan an effective course of treatment.

The department has a modern Endoscopy Unit, which includes 4 procedure rooms. A highly qualified team of 11 doctors and 17 nurses with special training in endoscopy work here for the benefit of patients. Most of the doctors in the Endoscopy Unit have more than 20 years of clinical experience in the area of their specialization. The physicians perform more than 8,000 diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures every year. The specialists have access to state-of-the-art technology, including high-definition video endoscopic systems (HDTV). The Endoscopy Unit successfully performs diagnostic tests such as endosonography, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, double-balloon enteroscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and others. Various endoscopy treatment methods are also available here, including endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, diverticulectomy, endoscopic stent placement, argon plasma coagulation, esophageal variceal ligation, percutaneous transhepatic drainage, and percutaneous cholangioscopy. Many procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Sedation is used to maximize patient comfort and eliminate pain during diagnosis or treatment.

The department also specializes in providing medical care to patients with heart diseases, including ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, valvular heart diseases, arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, myocarditis, pericarditis, and other pathologies. The medical facility offers its patients well-equipped diagnostic rooms with state-of-the-art equipment for classical echocardiography, stress echocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, electrocardiography, ergometry, spiroergometry, cardiac CT and MRI scans, and many other tests. As for the treatment, it primarily involves drug therapy. The department also performs catheter-based interventions for the implantation of pacemakers and electrical cardioversion for the treatment of arrhythmias. Patients with acute coronary syndrome receive medical care in the Intensive Care Unit.

The department's team of endocrinologists has vast clinical experience in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The highly specialized center, certified according to the German Diabetes Society (DDG) standards, is available here for patients. Since diabetes mellitus is an incurable pathology, the task of the department's doctors is to compensate for its progression. The specialists carry out training for this purpose, during which they tell patients in detail about the specifics of the disease, the possibilities of self-control, and various forms of therapy. Patients can also receive psychological help if required. Depending on the type of diabetes mellitus and the peculiarities of its course, the department's endocrinologists elaborate an optimal treatment regimen, which is based on the intake of oral hypoglycemic agents and/or insulin therapy. An integral part of the therapeutic process is diet and regular physical activity. The department cooperates closely with vascular surgeons, angiologists, plastic surgeons, and other specialists for the treatment of diabetes-related complications.

The department's therapeutic options are complemented by the diagnostics and treatment of cancer. Special attention is paid to the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory solid tumors, leukemias, and lymphomas. The department's oncologists prefer an interdisciplinary approach to patient care, holding weekly tumor boards with the participation of oncologists, radiation therapists, surgeons, and other specialized experts. Each patient receives an individually elaborated treatment regimen, taking into account the specific clinical case. As a rule, solid malignant tumors are treated with the help of surgical resection, which can be supplemented with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, etc. The primary treatment for leukemias and lymphomas is chemotherapy.

The department's range of therapeutic services includes:

• Gastroenterology
  • Drug therapy
  • Diet therapy
  • Endoscopic procedures
    • Gastroscopy
    • Colonoscopy
    • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
    • Endoscopic mucosal resection
    • Endoscopic submucosal dissection
    • Diverticulectomy
    • Esophageal variceal ligation
    • Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
    • Argon plasma coagulation
    • Endoscopic stent placement
    • Double-balloon enteroscopy
    • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
    • Percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy
    • Endoscopic ultrasound-guided puncture and drainage
• Cardiology
  • Drug therapy
  • Electrical cardioversion
  • Catheter-based procedures
    • Pacemaker imlantation
    • Pericardial puncture and drainage
• Endocrinology
  • Treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, and gestational diabetes mellitus
    • Drug therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents
    • Insulin therapy, including pump therapy
    • Diet therapy
    • Treatment of complications of diabetes mellitus, including diabetic foot syndrome
• Oncology
  • Treatment of solid malignant tumors
    • Chemotherapy
    • Radiation therapy
    • Hormone therapy
    • Target therapy
    • Immunotherapy
• Hematology
  • Treatment of malignant and benign blood diseases (focus on leukemias, lymphomas, and anemias)
    • Chemotherapy
    • Antibody therapy
    • Immunotherapy
    • Antihormonal therapy
    • Transfusions of blood and its components
    • Immunoglobulin replacement therapy
• Other diagnostic and therapeutic options