Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Meoclinic Hospital Berlin

About the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Meoclinic Hospital Berlin

The Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Meoclinic Hospital Berlin offers the full range of modern diagnostics and treatment for patients with pathologies of the digestive system. The medical facility specializes in the treatment of esophageal, stomach, bowel, liver, gallbladder and bile duct diseases. The priority clinical areas of the department's work include endoscopic examinations (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, proctoscopy), abdominal ultrasound scanning, as well as drug therapy and endoscopic treatment of gastroenterological pathologies. The department pays due attention to the diagnostics and provision of medical care to patients with gastrointestinal cancers. Colon cancer is one of the most common types of oncology worldwide, so the department's specialists offer a special screening program that allows them to exclude a diagnosis or detect oncopathology in the early stages, which significantly increases the chances of recovery. All doctors in the department have long experience and make every effort to provide the patient with effective medical care. The department is headed by Dr. med. Marc Köppe.

The department is distinguished by its special competence in the diagnostics and treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. A specificity of pathologies is that they often affect people between the ages of 15 and 35 years. The exact causes of these diseases are still unknown. Possible causes include genetic mutations, hereditary predisposition, autoimmune processes, psychosomatic disorders and smoking. Confirming the diagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is a rather time-consuming process, since pathologies are characterized by non-specific symptoms. First of all, the department's gastroenterologists perform fecal occult blood tests and blood tests followed by imaging diagnostics (ultrasound scanning, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging). The final stage of the diagnostic process is an endoscopic colon examination; a biopsy with a histological examination of the material obtained is also often performed. If the patient has one of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, the department's specialists strongly recommend not to postpone treatment in order to avoid the development of serious complications, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and malignant tumors. The department's doctors carry out conservative treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis with the help of modern drugs. An integral part of the treatment is lifestyle modification: diet correction, cessation of bad habits, maximum elimination of stressful situations. The surgical intervention is the last-line therapy and is performed by specialized surgeons.

The department's gastroenterologists also successfully carry out treatment of various esophageal diseases. The patients with esophageal varicose veins, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal cancer, esophagitis and achalasia cardia are within the focus of the specialists of the medical facility. The basis of the diagnostics is blood testing and endoscopic examination (esophagoscopy). To treat esophageal diseases, the department successfully uses drug therapy, endoscopic procedures and a combination of these methods. The optimal treatment regimen is determined by the attending physician on an individual basis with due consideration of a specific clinical case.

Another important focus of the department's clinical practice is the treatment of liver diseases. In this field, the treatment of chronic hepatitis is of particular interest. The pathology most often develops due to hepatitis B and C viruses. Autoimmune diseases with liver lesions and alcohol abuse can also provoke its development. When the patient with suspected chronic hepatitis visits the department, the first task of doctors is to study his anamnesis and conduct a general examination. This is followed by the necessary set of laboratory tests, ultrasound examination and liver biopsy (if clinically indicated). When prescribing treatment to the patient, the department's specialists strive to eliminate the cause of chronic hepatitis and prevent the progression of the pathology. For this purpose, drug therapy is mainly used.

The department also provides medical care to patients with gallbladder and biliary tract diseases: cholelithiasis, inflammatory lesions of the bile ducts or gallbladder. The diagnostic protocol includes laboratory tests, ultrasound scanning, and endoscopic procedures (for example, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). The therapeutic options include treatment with modern medications, gallstone fragmentation with the use of ultrasound waves (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy). There are often situations when gallbladder removal surgery is required. Such surgical interventions are performed by specialized surgeons, with the use of sparing laparoscopic techniques.

The department's key clinical areas include:

• Gastroenterology
  • Diagnostics and treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)
  • Diagnostics and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome
  • Diagnostics and treatment of acute and chronic types of diarrhea
  • Diagnostics and treatment of chronic pancreatic diseases
  • Diagnostics and treatment of esophageal diseases (esophageal varices, Barrett's esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, achalasia cardia)
  • Diagnostics and treatment of abdominal pain of unknown origin
• Hepatology
  • Diagnostics and treatment of liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis B and C
  • Diagnostics and treatment of gallbladder and bile duct diseases
• Diagnostics and treatment of other pathologies

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

• Diagnostic options
  • Gastroscopy
  • Colonoscopy
  • Small bowel capsule endoscopy
  • Rectoscopy
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
  • Abdominal ultrasound scanning
  • Hydrogen breath test for diagnosing fructose and lactose intolerance
  • Bowel cancer screening
  • Monitoring of patients with chronic bowel disease
• Therapeutic options
  • Drug therapy
  • Endoscopic removal of stomach and colon polyps
  • Endoscopic hemostasis procedures to stop abdominal bleeding
• Other medical services