Treatment of encopresis (bowel incontinence) with artificial sphincter implantation in St. Joseph Hospital Haan

About the department

The Department of General and Abdominal Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Endocrine Surgery and Hernia Surgery at the St. Joseph Hospital Haan offers all the options of modern surgical treatment in these areas. The department successfully performs operations on the abdominal organs (stomach, esophagus, small and large intestine, liver, gallbladder and spleen), rectum, anus and colon, thyroid and parathyroid glands. There is also rich clinical experience in the surgical treatment of inguinal and incisional hernias. Medical care is provided on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. The department's surgeons have a perfect command of the classical and sparing minimally invasive techniques, thanks to which they provide the effective treatment of pathologies of varying severity. All interventions are performed in high-tech operating rooms, in accordance with the protocols of professional societies and the highest safety standards. The department is headed by Dr. med. Thomas Ehmann.

The primary focus in the medical facility is on general and abdominal surgery. The team of surgeons specializes in operations for various diseases of the stomach, esophagus, small and large intestine, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and caecum. Doctors also perform surgical treatment of benign and malignant neoplasms of the skin and soft tissues. The department performs modern interventions for ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity). During such an operation, a special Alfa pump is used, with the help of which fluid from the abdominal cavity is discharged into the bladder. Whenever possible, the department's surgeons try to avoid open surgery and prefer minimally invasive interventions that are characterized by a low risk of bleeding and a rapid postoperative recovery.

The department's specialists have rich experience in the surgical treatment of hernias. They most often deal with the treatment of inguinal hernias. Depending on the location and size of the hernia, as well as the age of the patient and previous surgical interventions, the doctor chooses the optimal surgical technique for removing the hernia in a particular patient. When performing the intervention, the surgeon uses special meshes made of hypoallergenic material. The fixation of the hernia with a mesh significantly increases the strength of the anterior abdominal wall and reduces the risk of hernia recurrence. The surgery can be performed using either open surgical techniques or laparoscopy. Incisional hernias are treated with the Ramirez technique, through an open incision. In some clinical cases, doctors can eliminate incisional hernias using conservative methods.

One of the department's priority focuses is also on colorectal surgery. The surgeons in this medical field are engaged in the treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the colon and rectum. One of the most common pathologies is diverticulitis. The specialists can use drug treatment, but the patients with pathological conditions such as recurrent inflammatory processes, fistula or chronic intestinal obstruction require surgery. As a rule, the operations of this kind are performed with the use of laparoscopic techniques. The competence of the specialists in this medical field also includes the treatment of colorectal cancer. Depending on the stage of cancer and the condition of the patient, the appropriate surgical technique is selected. To maintain a high quality of life for patients after surgery, the muscles of the rectal sphincter are preserved as much as possible using a special technique. The interventions for colorectal cancer can also be performed using laparoscopic techniques. In addition, colorectal surgeons successfully treat hemorrhoids, anal fissures, fistulas, anal tumors, rectal prolapse. In many cases, conservative measures are sufficient for a complete cure, but some clinical cases require surgical interventions.

The department's surgical options are complemented by operations for thyroid and parathyroid diseases. The focus of endocrine surgeons is on patients with goiter and malignant thyroid tumors. Advanced surgical equipment allows the doctors to perform thyroid surgery through small incisions, so that postoperative scars on the neck are almost invisible. When performing surgical interventions on the thyroid gland, the specialists also use advanced navigation systems to avoid damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve and voice disorders.

The department's range of medical services includes:

• General and abdominal surgery
  • Surgery for stomach diseases
  • Surgery for esophageal diseases
  • Surgery for small and large intestine diseases
  • Surgery for liver and gallbladder diseases
  • Surgery for spleen diseases
  • Surgery for cecal diseases
  • Surgery for ascites (implantation of a special Alfa pump – an innovative technique)
  • Surgery for benign and malignant neoplasms of the skin and soft tissues
• Colorectal surgery
  • Surgery for diverticulitis
  • Surgery for colorectal cancer
  • Surgery for hemorrhoids
  • Surgery for anal fissures
  • Surgery for anal fistulas
  • Surgery for anal tumors
  • Surgery for rectal prolapse
• Endocrine surgery
  • Surgery for thyroid diseases
  • Surgery for parathyroid diseases
• Surgical treatment of hernias
  • Surgical treatment of inguinal hernias
  • Surgical treatment of incisional hernias, including reconstructive surgery using the Ramirez technique
• Other surgical options