Areas of focus of our General Surgery and Coloproctology department

1. 1. Intestinal surgery: Interventions – primarily minimally invasive – in all benign and malignant diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including colo-anal and ileo-anal pouch techniques, e.g. in colon cancer and rectal cancer, inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases (e.g. diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) and chronic obstipation. A particular feature of our work is in the specialised diagnosis and surgical therapy of rectal carcinoma (cancer of the rectum).
2. 2. Specialist coloproctology: Specialised diagnosis, conservative and surgical therapy of all diseases of the anus, large intestine and rectum, e.g. haemorrhoidal conditions, anal fistulas and fissures, sphincter reconstructions, transanal tumour surgery.
   
   A further area of focus is the diagnosis and conservative and surgical therapy of pelvic floor insufficiency with anal or vaginal prolapse, concomitant faecal incontinence (weakness or inability to halt the stool motion) and stool evacuation problems.
   
   The treatment of these often complex disorders is discussed where necessary within an interdisciplinary team in collaboration with gynaecologists, urologists and pain therapists.
3. 3. General visceral surgery: Surgical treatment of diseases of the bile ducts (e.g. gallstones) and of the liver. Most interventions use minimally invasive techniques.
   Endocrine surgery: Interventions in benign and malignant diseases of the hormone-producing organs, e.g. thyroid
   Hernia surgery: minimally invasive laparoscopic and open treatment of all abdominal wall and inguinal hernias
   Skin and soft tissue surgery (e.g. in benign and malignant tumours)
4. 4. Surgical endoscopy
   In addition to imaging the anus and rectum (proctoscopy and rectoscopy) we also perform complete imaging of the colon (coloscopy). This is normally performed with the provision of pain relief and anaesthetic so that the patient does not experience too much discomfort. The investigation is used for diagnostic purposes and/or to rule out inflammatory or malignant gastrointestinal diseases. Smaller polyps and tumours can be removed during the investigation if necessary. Preparations for the investigation can normally be done at home on the day before.
5. 5. Surgical stomatherapy
   This area deals with the surgical treatment of stoma patients in close collaboration with stomatherapists (stoma = artificial anal or urinary sphincter).