The program includes:
- Initial presentation in the hospital
- Clinical history taking
- Review of available medical records
- Physical examination
- Laboratory tests:
- Complete blood count
- General urine analysis
- Biochemical analysis of blood
- Tumor markers
- Inflammation indicators (CRP, ESR)
- Coagulogram
- Ultrasound scan
- CT scan / MRI
- Preoperative care
- Embolization or chemoembolization, 2 procedures
- Symptomatic treatment
- Cost of essential medicines
- Nursing services
- Elaboration of further recommendations
How program is carried out
During the first visit, the doctor will conduct a clinical examination and go through the results of the available diagnostic tests. After that, you will undergo the necessary additional examination, such as the assessment of liver and kidney function, ultrasound scan, CT scan and MRI. This will allow the doctor to determine which vessels are feeding the tumor and its metastases, as well as determine how well you will tolerate the procedure.
Chemoembolization begins with local anesthesia and catheterization of the femoral artery. The thin catheter is inserted through a few centimeters long incision of the blood vessel. The doctor gradually moves the catheter to the vessel feeding the primary tumor or its metastases. The procedure is carried out under visual control, an angiographic device is used for this. The vascular bed and the position of the catheter in it are displayed on the screen of the angiograph.
When the catheter reaches a suspected artery, a contrast agent is injected through it. Due to the introduction of the contrast agent, the doctor clearly sees the smallest vessels of the tumor and the surrounding healthy tissues on the screen of the angiograph. After that, he injects emboli into the tumor vessels through the same catheter.
Emboli are the spirals or the liquid microspheres. The type of embolus is selected individually, taking into account the diameter of the target vessel. When carrying out chemoembolization, a solution of a chemotherapy drug is additionally injected into the tumor vessel. Due to the subsequent closure of the vessel lumen with an embolus, the chemotherapy drug influences the tumor for a long time. In addition, the drug does not enter the systemic circulation, which allows doctors to use high doses of chemotherapeutic agents without the development of serious side effects. Chemoembolization leads to the destruction of the tumor or slowing down its progression.
After that, the catheter is removed from the artery. The doctor puts a vascular suture on the femoral artery and closes it with a sterile dressing. During chemoembolization, you will be awake. General anesthesia is not used, which significantly reduces the risks of the procedure and allows performing it on an outpatient basis, avoiding long hospital stay.
After the first procedure, you will stay under the supervision of an interventional oncologist and general practitioner. If necessary, you will receive symptomatic treatment. As a rule, a second chemoembolization procedure is performed in 3-5 days after the first one in order to consolidate the therapeutic effect. After that, you will receive recommendations for further follow-up and treatment.
Required documents
- Medical records
- MRI/CT scan (not older than 3 months)
- Biopsy results (if available)
Service
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About the department
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf ranks among the top German medical facilities specializing in prostate cancer treatment!
The department has all the diagnostic and therapeutic options to provide first-class medical care for patients with diseases of the genitourinary system. The priority focus is reconstructive urology, in particular, the whole range of urethral surgery, procedures for the treatment of urinary incontinence (including artificial sphincter implantation, sling procedures), as well as penile surgery for congenital or acquired malformations, prosthetics in case of erectile dysfunction. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Margit Fisch.
The department’s specialists have extensive experience in the treatment of bladder, kidney, adrenal, testicular and penile cancers. This area is represented by the full spectrum of classical surgery and minimally invasive interventions (including the modern da Vinci robotic system). It should be noted that the department is a leader in the field of minimally invasive surgery in Northern Germany, especially in the field of holmium laser surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia and laparoscopic kidney surgery. Drug treatment of urinary system cancers is carried out in close cooperation with the Department of Oncology and the Comprehensive Cancer Center Hamburg. Thanks to the excellent medical technical base and the skill of the department’s doctors, patients are guaranteed optimal results even in particularly difficult clinical cases.
Another important department’s focus is pediatric urology. The department is one of the leading and most successful medical institutions in Germany specializing in the treatment of urologic problems in boys, as well as a certified Training Center of the European Society for Pediatric Urology (ESDP).
The service range of the department includes:
- Plastic reconstructive urology
- Urethral stenosis surgery
- All forms of urine diversion
- Renal pelvis and ureter reconstruction
- Correction of penile curvature and deformities
- Urologic oncology
- Prostate cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Germ cell tumors
- Urothelial carcinoma
- Testicular tumors
- General urology
- Kidney stone disease
- Urinary incontinence
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Erectile dysfunction and penile curvature
- Urinary tract infections
- Urinary tract obstruction
- Pediatric urology
- Hydronephrosis
- Urethral stricture
- Hypospadias
- Expansion of the renal pelvis
- Double kidney
- Enuresis
- Urinary incontinence
- Infectious diseases of the urinary tract
- Neurogenic bladder dysfunction in case of complex malformations
- Urinary incontinence treatment
- TVT and TOT procedures
- Artificial sphincter implantation (AMS-800)
- Surgery for incontinence caused by neurological disorders
- Correction of bladder dysfunction
- Implantation of special stimulants for proper bladder emptying
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Endourological, laparoscopic, retroperitoneoscopic and robot-assisted interventions
- Nephrectomy
- Holmium Laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in case of benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Transurethral resection for benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Minimally invasive treatment of stones in the urinary system
- Other medical services
Curriculum vitae
Education
- 1980 - 1986 Study of Medicine at the Saarland University.
- 05.12.1986 Admission to medical practice.
- 07.1987 Doctoral degree.
Postdoctoral Training
- 1987 One-year training in Surgery, St. Teresa Clinic, Luxembourg.
- 1988 - 02.1992 Department of Urology at the University Hospital Mainz.
- 02.1992 Board certification.
- 10.1995 Habilitation: "Optimization of ureterosigmostomy, development of rectosigmoid reservoirs".
- 03.2005 Extraordinary Professor of the University of Mainz.
Additional Qualifications
- 1998 Special surgical urology.
- 2008 Tumor drug therapy.
- 2008 Andrology.
Professional Career
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Mainz.
- 03.1992 - 08.1993 Assistant Physician.
- 09.1993 - 05.1997 Senior Physician.
- 06.1997 - 12.1999 Leading Senior Physician.
- 01.2000 - 05.2001 Head of the Section for Pediatric Urology, Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology at the Asklepios Clinic Harburg.
- 06.2001 - 12.2001 Acting Head of the Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology at the Asklepios Clinic Harburg.
- 01.2002 - 11.2008 Chief Physician of the Urologic Center Hamburg (UZH), Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, Asklepios Clinic Harburg.
- Since 12.2008 Head of the Department of Adult and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf.
Membership in Professional Societies
- German Society of Urology (DGU) (2003 - 2008 Board Member, Clerk and Spokesperson).
- Task Force on Pediatric Urology DGU (Clerk).
- Professional Association of German Urologists (currently, the 2nd Chairperson).
- Association of North German Urologists.
- German-Japanese Society.
- European Association of Urology (EAU).
- European Society of Pediatric Urology (ESPU).
- European Society of Genito-Urinary Reconstructive Surgeons (ESGURS).
- American Association of Urology (AUA).
- European Society for Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons (GURS) (Board Member, President 2000 - 2001).
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Section of Urology (AAP).
- Society for Paediatric Urological Surgeons (SPUS)
- Société Internationale d'Urologie (SIU).
- Pan African Urological Association.
Publications, Congresses and Other Activities
- Publications: more than 270, in more than 94 of them the doctor is the first author.
- Supervisor for doctoral theses (to date): 23 successfully completed works.
- Organization of congresses (in total, more than 22). Regular congresses include:
- Advanced training courses in Pediatric Urology within the framework of training for assistant physicians, together with the Department of Pediatric Urology in Linz (every 2 years).
- International Meeting on Reconstructive Urology (IMORU).
- International Meeting on Broadcasting Surgical Operations Live (every 3 years).
Photo of the doctor: (c) Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
About hospital
According to the Focus magazine, the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf is one of the top ten hospitals in Germany!
Since its foundation in 1889, the hospital has taken a leading position in the European medical arena, which it still holds today. A highly competent medical team of more than 15,300 employees takes care of the health of patients. Approximately 2,900 of them are physicians and researchers, and more than 3,400 work as nurses and therapists. The hospital has 1,738 beds for inpatient treatment, and many diagnostic and therapeutic services are provided on an outpatient basis. A solid foundation for successful clinical practice in the medical complex is formed by a combination of research achievements with state-of-the-art equipment and the highest professionalism of doctors. In addition, the hospital has a modern and extremely comfortable infrastructure. The most important value for every employee of the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf is the health and well-being of every patient.
The medical facility was the first university hospital in Europe to implement an electronic system for storing patient medical reports. As a result, all diagnostic and treatment protocols are stored electronically. In 2011, the hospital was certified as the first fully digital hospital in Europe.
The hospital represents all areas of modern medicine. The doctors of the healthcare facility have a wealth of theoretical knowledge and vast clinical experience, which allows them to easily cope with the treatment of both common and extremely rare, complex clinical cases. About 550,000 patients are treated here each year, over 450,000 of whom receive outpatient medical care.
An important part of the work of the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf is research activities aimed at developing innovative diagnostic and treatment methods. The main areas of research of the hospital include neurobiology, oncology, cardiovascular research, and research on infectious and inflammatory diseases. Special attention is also given to research in molecular imaging and skeletal biology.
The hospital is distinguished by its first-class level of medical care, which is confirmed by numerous quality certificates of European and international standards: DIN EN IS0 9001 certificate, certificates of the German Cancer Society (DKG) in the treatment of breast cancer, colon cancer, gynecological cancer, prostate cancer, and other oncological diseases, certificate of the German Cardiac Society (DGK) in the treatment of acute coronary syndrome, certificate of the German Spine Society (DWG), and others.
Photo: (с) depositphotos
Accommodation in hospital
Patients rooms
The patients of the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf live in comfortable single and double rooms designed in bright colors. Each room is equipped with an ensuite bathroom with a toilet and a shower. The standard room includes an automatically adjustable bed, a bedside table, a wardrobe, a table and chairs for receiving visitors, a telephone, a radio and a TV. Also, there is Wi-Fi access.
Meals and Menus
The patient and his accompanying person have a daily choice of three menus. If for any reason you do not eat all the food, you will be offered an individual menu. Please inform the medical staff about your dietary preferences prior to the treatment.
Further details
Standard rooms include:
Religion
Religious services are available upon request.
Accompanying person
During the inpatient program, an accompanying person may stay with you in a patient room or hotel of your choice.
Hospital accommodation
During the outpatient program, you may stay in a hotel at the hospital.
Hotel
During the outpatient program, you may stay in a hotel of your choice. Managers will help you choose the most suitable options.
The hospital offers a full range of laboratory tests (general, hormonal, tests for infections, antibodies, tumor markers, etc.), genetic tests, various modifications of ultrasound scans, CT scans, MRI and PET / CT, angiography, myelography, biopsy and other examinations. Treatment with medications, endoscopic and robotic operations, stereotaxic interventions is carried out here, modern types of radiation therapy are also used. The hospital offers patients all the necessary therapeutic techniques.
- Coiling and clipping of aneurysms of different localizations
- Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting in patients with portal hypertension
- Minimally invasive surgeries (da Vinci)
- Removal and reconstruction of mammary glands
- Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)
These are arteriovenous malformations and angiomas, vascular aneurysms, pathologies of the mammary glands, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, malignant tumors of various localizations (area of special attention is treatment of intestinal cancer), pathologies of liver and pancreas, cataracts and rare ophthalmic pathologies (aphakia, aniridia ), infertility and other diseases.
- Interventional neuroradiology
- Mammology
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Surgery
Over 2,900 highly qualified physicians and researchers work at the hospital.