Thoracic Surgery Offenbach – Prof. Dr Peter Kleine

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Prof. Dr Peter Kleine is a specialist in thoracic surgery and Chief Physician at the Sana Clinic Offenbach. Professor Kleine is also a Specialist Physician in surgery and cardiovascular surgery. The medical team at the Sana Clinic Offenbach offers a wide range of services for the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases of the organs in the thorax.

The focus is on minimally invasive procedures such as keyhole surgery and procedures on the lungs and costal pleura. In addition to major lung surgery, corrective surgery for elevated diaphragm, and laser resections for benign and malignant tumours, the clinic also offers the gentle VATS lobectomy method for lung cancer. This allows patients to recover quickly.

Thorax Clinic Offenbach – Experts in Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery

The Thoracic Clinic at the Sana Clinic Offenbach offers an extensive range of surgical services. The focus is on operations on the lungs and costal pleura as well as the diaphragm, trachea, and mediastinum. Whenever possible, these are operated on in a minimally invasive and tissue conserving manner. From the beginning of 2021, the surgical team will be putting a unique surgical robot into operation. This will make lung surgeries even more precise.

For every type of treatment, Professor Kleine attaches particular importance to open communication, good clarification, and close cooperation with the other specialist disciplines. As an experienced thoracic surgeon, Professor Kleine offers his patients his experience and expertise – from diagnosis to the treatment of thoracic diseases.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration for the Benefit of the Patient

Prof. Kleine is supported by other experts in diagnosis and therapy, especially pulmonologists and radiologists. In addition to conventional standard procedures such as CT, MRI, or lung endoscopy, special examination methods such as CT-guided puncture and marking of round lung foci and positron emission tomography (PET) via local cooperation are used. Thanks to the infrastructure of the clinic and the close networking with the other clinics of the building, the department of thoracic surgery also offers interdisciplinary interventions.

Specialist for Lung Cancer Surgery

One focus of the thoracic clinic is lung cancer surgery. Ahead of the surgery, Professor Kleine provides detailed information about the surgical methodology in the consultation hours. Before and after the surgical procedure, Dr Kleine discusses the patient's findings with the other medical specialists in a tumour board. The tumour board is an interdisciplinary team of pulmonologists, oncologists, radiation therapists, radiologists, and pathologists with whom Professor Kleine discusses tumour cases and determines the individual therapy.

VATS Lobectomy of the Lungs

Professor Kleine operates on early-stage lung cancer with the VATS lobectomy (video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy). This involves removing the lobes of the lungs affected by the cancer as well as the lymph nodes on the affected side. The post-surgical pain after a minimally invasive VATS lobectomy is less than after a conventional surgical method. Patients are also able to leave the clinic more quickly. Whether or not a VATS lobectomy is appropriate for a patient is determined individually after a thorough examination.

Having the Pulmonary Nodule Investigated Quickly

The pulmonary nodule is diagnosed and treated by Professor Kleine. The pulmonary nodule is a radiologically detected, roundishly delimited shadow, which is up to 3 cm in size. This can be either a lung tumour (benign or malignant) or a metastasis from a tumour in another part of the body. In most cases it is a benign, small growth - inflammatory changes - caused by an infection, or an immunological reaction. Imaging procedures or a histopathological examination ensure the diagnosis of the pulmonary nodule. Regular check-ups at the Department of Thoracic Surgery as well as discussions in a multidisciplinary team support the patient with the diagnosis of a pulmonary nodule, which is observed at regular intervals. If a surgical intervention is necessary, it is usually minimally invasive.

Pleural Cancer Surgery

Pleural mesothelioma or pleural carcinoma is most often caused by contact with asbestos. It requires treatment by a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, oncologists, pneumologists, and radiotherapists. During the surgery, the costal pleura is completely removed, whereby the lung tissue is preserved as completely as possible. This surgical procedure is carefully planned by Professor Klein and discussed in detail with the patient and his or her family.
Other tumours can also adhere to the costal pleura as metastases. This is usually the case when an accumulation of fluid appears in the thorax (i.e. pleural effusion). The fluid restricts the function of the lungs. Ttherefore, most patients suffer from shortness of breath. A minimally invasive surgery can achieve a permanent improvement of the symptoms by affixing the lung to the chest wall so no more fluid can accumulate.

Thymus Surgery

The thymus is a gland of the immune system. It is a recognizable, independent organ in children and adolescents and regresses during adulthood. Benign or malignant tumours can form from the cell remnants of the relapse. These are surgically removed at Professor Kleine’s Department of Thoracic Surgery. While the procedure is minimally invasive for small tumours (thoracoscopy), open surgery is necessary for larger ones. In addition to tumour surgery, Professor Kleine also removes the thymus in case of myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness) to improve a patient’s symptoms supporting the effectiveness of medications.

Diaphragm Surgery for an Elevated Diaphragm

The diaphragm is the most important respiratory muscle in the human body. An elevated diaphragm - causes can vary - is revealed by respiratory distress. This is particularly pronounced during exercise. Here, the therapy consists of a plastic correction in which the diaphragm is brought back into the proper position. This adjustment is one of Professor Kleine’s specialities at the Sana Clinic Offenbach. Thanks to his experience, the procedure is a low-risk incision which can be performed at any time after symptoms occur.

Learn more about Professor Kleine on the website of the Sana Clinic Offenbach.