Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectology - University Hospital Oldenburg

About the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectology at University Hospital Oldenburg

The Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectology at the University Hospital Oldenburg specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, as well as infectious diseases and diabetes mellitus types I and II. The priority ​​clinical activity of the department is the treatment of oncological diseases of the digestive system, which is provided in close cooperation with the Department of General and Abdominal Surgery and the Department of Oncology and Hematology. The department is equipped with modern endoscopy rooms where diagnostic and therapeutic interventional procedures are successfully performed in strict compliance with hygiene and safety standards. Endoscopic diagnosis allows the doctors of the department to assess the condition of the gastrointestinal tract from the inside, and endoscopic treatment of gastroenterological diseases is an excellent alternative to surgery when conservative therapy does not give the desired result. It should be noted that the department has a rich experience in the field of endoscopic treatment of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and its complications. The patient's health is in the safe hands of highly competent doctors, who develop an individual treatment regimen for each patient, taking into account their needs and wishes. The Head Physician of the department is Dr. med. Christian Meinhardt.

The gastroenterologists of the department focus on endoscopic examinations and therapeutic manipulations on the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, pancreas, liver, and bile ducts. The department's endoscopy rooms are equipped with the latest generation equipment, which contributes to the high efficiency and safety of treatment. The diagnostic capabilities of the department include classical endoscopic examinations with high-resolution scans, such as virtual chromoendoscopy, endosonography with mini-probes, endoscopic ultrasound in longitudinal scanning mode, and capsule endoscopy for the detection of rare diseases of the small intestine. The department offers a variety of examinations for suspected gastrointestinal tumors that, if detected early, can be treated endoscopically without open surgery.

The gastroenterologists of the department perform all currently available therapeutic endoscopic procedures: polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, radiofrequency ablation, argon plasma coagulation, esophageal variceal ligation, bougienage and dilation for stenosis, stenting, electrohydraulic lithotripsy, and others. For the treatment of urgent clinical conditions, such as gastrointestinal bleeding or acute pancreatitis, the department has a specially trained team of doctors who work around the clock.

In the field of hepatology, the department offers diagnosis and treatment of all liver diseases. Of particular interest are new aspects of the treatment of viral hepatitis B and C. In most cases, drug therapy is used during treatment. In cooperation with the Department of Radiology, the department's doctors also perform interventional procedures under imaging guidance: transarterial chemoembolization for liver tumors, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting for liver cirrhosis and severe forms of ascites, and selective internal radiation therapy for liver tumors.

The department also treats patients with diabetes mellitus types I and II, complications of diabetes mellitus, especially diabetic foot syndrome. Individual consultations are held here, during which a specialist talks about the importance of blood glucose control, proper nutrition, and answers all questions of interest to the patient. In addition, the department organizes educational seminars and the latest training programs, such as the PRIMAS program, a treatment and education program for patients with type I diabetes mellitus.

The department's range of diagnostic services includes the following:

• Endoscopic examinations
  • Gastroscopy and colonoscopy, including chromoendoscopy
  • Proctoscopy
  • Enteroscopy, including single balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
  • Cholangioscopy
  • Endosonography
• Non-endoscopic examinations
  • Ultrasound examinations
  • Ultrasound examinations of the abdominal cavity with interventional procedures and biopsy
  • Contrast-enhanced ultrasound examinations
  • Endosonography using longitudinal scanning mode and performing interventional procedures
  • Contrast-enhanced endosonography
  • Endosonography with a high-resolution mini-probe
  • Rectal endosonography with transverse scanning
  • Functional diagnostics
  • Lactose, lactulose, fructose, and glucose breath tests
  • Esophageal manometry
  • 24-hour pH-metry
  • Esophageal impedance testing
  • Comprehensive liver examination, including liver biopsy
• Other diagnostic methods

The department offers the following treatment methods:

• Polypectomy
• Endoscopic mucosal resection
• Endoscopic submucosal dissection
• Endoscopic removal of gastrointestinal malignancies at an early stage
• Radiofrequency ablation for Barrett's esophagus and bile duct tumors
• Argon plasma coagulation
• Esophageal variceal treatment with histoacryl injections or latex ligation
• Bougienage or dilation for stenosis
• Stenting of all sections of the gastrointestinal tract
• Percutaneous transhepatic drainage
• Pancreatic cyst drainage and retroperitoneal endoscopic necrosectomy
• Endoscopic treatment of wounds and abscesses
• Electrohydraulic lithotripsy
• Transarterial chemoembolization for liver tumors
• Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting for liver cirrhosis and ascites
• Selective internal radiation therapy for liver tumors
• Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for pancreatic stones
• Other therapeutic services