Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology, Endocrinology and Infectology - University Hospital Erlangen

About the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology, Endocrinology and Infectology at University Hospital Erlangen

The Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology, Endocrinology and Infectology at the University Hospital Erlangen offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, lungs and endocrine glands. The department also provides medical care for patients with infectious pathologies. The treatment is provided both on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The department also has a modern Intensive Care Unit and an Emergency Service. Modern equipment for endoscopy, ultrasound examinations, in-house laboratory for endocrinological diagnostics and other capabilities of the department guarantee an accurate diagnosis, which is the key to successful treatment. The department's therapeutic options include drug therapy, diet therapy for diseases of the digestive tract, endoscopic procedures and other types of therapy. Each patient receives an individual treatment regimen, thanks to which the department's doctors manage to effectively restore the health of patients and provide them with a decent quality of life. The Chief Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Markus Neurath.

The department's primary focus is gastroenterology. Doctors have in their arsenal many endoscopic procedures carried out for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The outstanding quality of services in this area is confirmed by certification in accordance with the criteria of the German Cancer Society and in accordance with DIN ISO 9001:2008. Of particular interest in the field of endoscopy is the early diagnostics of cancer, as well as the detection of inflammatory changes in the mucous membrane using high-resolution endoscopy and various marking (staining) methods. Precancerous conditions are treated with endoscopic minimally invasive techniques. The department offers all modern procedures, including endoscopic mucosal resection. The department's doctors also specialize in capsule endoscopy, for example, to detect the causes of bleeding in the small intestine.

The department's doctors often admit patients with diseases of the liver and biliary tract. The therapeutic process begins with a comprehensive examination, including laboratory and ultrasound techniques. With suspected liver fibrosis, acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) is also used. Of particular interest to the specialists in the field of hepatology is the treatment of hepatitis B and C, autoimmune or cholestatic liver disease, cirrhosis, alcoholic liver lesions, and genetic liver pathologies (for example, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease). The department also has a unique experience in liver cancer treatment provided in interdisciplinary collaboration with doctors from the Departments of Surgery, Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. The patients suffering from liver cancer are offered all modern therapies, including surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT). The tasks of the department's doctors also include preparing patients for liver transplantation and follow-up care after surgery.

The department's range of services is not limited to the treatment of gastrointestinal and liver disease. The patients with diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract can also receive medical care here. The primary focus of the clinical activities of pulmonologists is the drug therapy of lung cancer. Specialists also provide the treatment of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The treatment involves the use of only reliable, effective methods that ensure excellent results.

In the field of endocrinology, patients are provided with all the diagnostic and therapeutic options for the treatment of hormonal imbalance and metabolic disorders. Special attention is paid to the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and diabetes mellitus.

The treatment of infectious diseases in the department is distinguished with the quality certificate of the German Society of Infectious Diseases, which testifies to the impeccable quality of medical care for infectious diseases of any severity. To accommodate patients with infectious pathologies, the department has six special isolation rooms in the unit with standard rooms and eight special isolation rooms in the intensive care unit. In some cases, treatment can be provided on an outpatient basis. To fight infections, doctors use the very latest and highly effective medication.

The department's main clinical focuses include:

• Diagnostics and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases
  • All modern endoscopic procedures (diagnostic and therapeutic)
• Ultrasound diagnostics
• Diagnostics and treatment of liver and biliary tract diseases, including liver cancer
• Diagnostics and treatment of diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract (main focus on the treatment of lung cancer, bronchial asthma and obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Diagnostics and treatment of hormonal imbalance and metabolic disorders, including diabetes mellitus and neuroendocrine tumors
• Diagnostics and treatment of infectious diseases
• Intensive care
  • Severe infections, sepsis with and without multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
  • Severe respiratory distress
  • Exacerbations of COPD and bronchial asthma
  • Weaning from mechanical ventilation
  • Liver failure
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Severe metabolic and endocrine disorders
  • Severe bleeding disorders
  • Intoxication
    • Invasive hemodynamic monitoring of the systemic and pulmonary circulation (pulmonary catheter), including continuous monitoring of cardiac output ("PiCCO")
    • Differentiated invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation
    • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and assisted procedures for maintaining lung function (ECMO, ECCO2-R)
    • Emergency bronchoscopy at a hospital bed (24/7)
    • Emergency endoscopy at the hospital bed (in collaboration with the Department of Endoscopy)
    • Emergency ultrasound diagnostics at a hospital bed
    • Continuous renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis, hemofiltration, etc.)
    • Renal replacement therapy at a hospital bed (SLED / Genius®, HD)
    • Liver replacement therapy at a hospital bed (MARS®)
• Other medical services