Treatment of encopresis (bowel incontinence) with artificial sphincter implantation in St. Antonius Hospital Eschweiler

About the department

The Department of General, Abdominal, Colorectal, Endocrine, Thoracic and Bariatric Surgery at the St. Antonius Hospital Eschweiler offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services in the areas of its competence. A highly qualified team of the department's surgeons performs surgical procedures on the gastrointestinal organs, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, lungs and other thoracic organs, as well as hernia repair procedures. Of particular interest to the doctors of the medical facility is the surgical treatment of stomach and colon malignancies. The department's surgeons cooperate closely with gastroenterologists, oncologists and doctors from other related specialties, which guarantees comprehensive approach and high treatment efficiency. The department also focuses on patients with proctological diseases, including hemorrhoids, anal fistulas, anorectal abscesses and fecal incontinence. The department has the status of the Center of Competence for Bariatric Surgery and successfully performs modern weight loss surgery in patients suffering from morbid obesity. The department's operating rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, while most of the interventions are performed using sparing minimally invasive techniques. The use of minimally invasive surgery has a number of benefits, while its efficiency is not inferior to classic open surgery associated with numerous risks to human health. The Chief Physician of the department is Dr. med. Mario Dellanna.

The primary focus of the department's clinical activities is the surgical treatment of malignant tumors of the stomach, colon, rectum, as well as the surgical resection of benign and malignant liver tumors. Cancer patients require interdisciplinary medical care, so the department's surgeons cooperate closely with oncologists. During the tumor boards, doctors consider each clinical case and thoroughly think over each stage of the subsequent treatment. The department's surgeons are responsible for the surgical removal of a malignant tumor or even a part of an organ affected by the oncological process. With the advanced medical and technical equipment, the specialists of the medical facility can perform most surgical procedures using minimally invasive techniques, which allows the patient to quickly recover from surgery, avoid serious postoperative risks and severe pain. Once the tumor has been removed, the patient will be additionally appointed chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, antibody therapy and other types of treatment. The specific complex of therapeutic measures is determined individually, based on the patient's diagnosis and clinical indications In some cases, chemotherapy can be carried out prior to surgery as well.

The department's surgeons specialize in the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The disease develops with pathological reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus due to the dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter. The surgeons and gastroenterologists jointly study diagnostic results, after which they make a decision on the most effective type of treatment. Obviously, the specialists always give preference to conservative therapy (drug therapy), while interventional treatment is the last-line therapy. However, in some cases, surgery is unavoidable. A great advantage for the department's patients is the vast experience of surgeons in Nissen fundoplication – the most effective surgical intervention for gastroesophageal reflux disease. The operation is performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques. The essence of the operation is that the surgeon wraps the gastric fundus around the esophagus, thereby creating a cuff that prevents reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. The intervention increases the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter, which prevents the reflux process. Thanks to the use of sparing surgical techniques, the risks of postoperative complications are minimal.

The department's medical team is also proud of its successful results in hernia repair surgery: inguinal hernias, epigastric hernias, umbilical hernias, incisional and diaphragmatic hernias. The department's services range is complemented by surgical procedures on the liver, biliary tract, thyroid, spleen, lungs, thoracic organs and soft tissues. The surgeons of the medical facility also perform interventions to implant catheter systems for dialysis.

It is worth noting that the department includes a specialized Center of Competence for Bariatric Surgery, which performs surgical procedures for morbid obesity treatment. Weight loss in case of morbid obesity is possible only with the help of a carefully developed comprehensive treatment regimen, and therefore the patients receive medical care not only from bariatric surgeons, but also from therapists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, plastic surgeons, behavioral therapists and other specialists. Prior to a bariatric intervention, the specialists carefully assess all the pros and cons of such treatment. The operation is prescribed only if it is the only effective method of treatment for a particular patient. The department's doctors specialize in gastric banding, gastric bypass surgery and intragastric balloon placement. Whenever required, surgeons also perform plastic surgery to repair the shape of the body after rapid weight loss (body lift). The surgical treatment is complemented by an individually developed diet and regular physical exercises.

The department's range of surgical services includes:

• General and abdominal surgery
  • Surgical interventions for benign and malignant stomach diseases
  • Surgical interventions for benign and malignant bowel diseases
  • Surgical interventions for rectal cancer
  • Surgical interventions for benign and malignant liver diseases
  • Surgical interventions for benign and malignant diseases of the gallbladder and biliary tract
  • Surgical interventions for benign and malignant spleen diseases
  • Surgical interventions for gastroesophageal reflux disease (Nissen fundoplication)
  • Surgical interventions for hernias
  • Surgical interventions for pathological lesions of soft tissues
  • Surgical interventions for catheter placement for dialysis
• Colorectal surgery
  • Surgical interventions for hemorrhoids (stapled hemorrhoidopexy, open surgery)
  • Surgical interventions for fecal incontinence (placement of a special stimulator)
  • Surgical interventions for rectal prolapse
  • Surgical interventions for obstructive defecation syndrome
  • Surgical interventions for rectal tumor removal (minimally invasive)
  • Surgical interventions for anorectal abscesses
  • Surgical interventions for genital warts
  • Surgical interventions for anal fistulas
• Endocrine surgery
  • Surgical interventions for nodular goiter
  • Surgical interventions for thyroid cancer
• Thoracic surgery
  • Surgical interventions for lung diseases
  • Surgical interventions for diseases of other thoracic organs
• Bariatric surgery
  • Gastric banding 
  • Gastric bypass surgery
  • Intragastric balloon placement
• Other surgical options

Photo of the doctor: (c) St.-Antonius-Hospital