Thoracic Surgery Bern: Prof. Dr Gregor Kocher

Card

Prof. Dr Gregor Kocher is a specialist in thoracic surgery and works in his practice in Bern. He also works part-time as Head Physician for Thoracic Surgery at St. Claraspital Basel and as a consultant with Bürgerspital Solothurn and Kantonsspital Olten.

Professor Kocher is motivated to do his best for his patient's well-being and provides them with individual and comprehensive care based on the latest established treatment concepts. He places great emphasis on personal care from the first consultation to aftercare. Focusing on the treatment of pulmonary, mediastinal, and pleural tumors, the most gentle, modern minimally invasive procedures, including Da Vinci robot-assisted surgery, are used if surgeries become necessary.

Swiss Lung Cancer Specialist: Gentle Therapy through Minimally Invasive Surgery

A lung cancer diagnosis is a significant turning point in the patients' and their families' lives. Interdisciplinary treatment, trust, and a high level of experience in the field are among the essential factors for comprehensive treatment.

Prof. Dr Gregor Kocher has many years of experience in lung surgery and lung cancer treatment and provides interdisciplinary medicine at the highest level. Before opening his practice, he was head physician at the University Clinic for Thoracic Surgery at Inselspital Bern. Malignant tumor diseases of the lung tissue are one of his main focuses. He attaches great importance to a detailed medical history. He takes sufficient time at every stage of treatment to respond in detail to the questions and concerns of the patients concerned.

The therapy options are explained in detail by the experienced surgeon, who goes into the individual surgical steps and the most critical points of aftercare in detail. Thoracoscopy, an endoscopic examination of the chest cavity, is used to diagnose and treat lung cancer. Tissue changes in the lungs and pleura can be evaluated, and tissue samples can be taken. The tumor can usually be removed directly during the same procedure using this minimally invasive technique. Prof. Kocher makes a small 2-3 cm large incision through which the endoscope and the minimally invasive special instruments are passed. Using the video-assisted procedure, the doctor can evaluate the tissue, take a biopsy, and, if necessary, remove the affected lung segment or, for larger tumors, the affected lobe of the lung during the same surgery.

Once the diagnosis has been made, a treatment plan is created in interdisciplinary consultation with other specialists, considering the patient's wishes. In the case of an operable tumor, the procedure can often be minimally invasive, as described above.

The minimally invasive and, therefore, tissue-sparing procedure benefits the healing process of the patients. The doctor only decides in favor of open surgery in rare cases. This is necessary for extensive tissue growths that cannot be safely removed using minimally invasive surgery. Prof. Kocher provides comprehensive follow-up care and aftercare after the procedure.

Many Years of Experience in the Treatment of Cysts and Tumors in the Mediastinum

The mediastinum is the part of the chest cavity that extends vertically from the neck to the diaphragm and is bordered by the sternum at the front and the spine at the back. The thymus gland is located in the mediastinum and is part of the lymphatic system, which plays a significant role in childhood. In adulthood, the thymus gland can degenerate or cause difficulties as part of the disease myasthenia gravis.

This severe muscle weakness, mainly affecting younger women, can be positively influenced by removing the gland, and the symptoms can be significantly alleviated.

Other diseases of the mediastinum can include thymus cysts, nerve sheath tumors, or duplication cysts of the esophagus. Using the most modern and gentle surgical procedures, Prof. Kocher can remove cysts and soft tissue tumors of the mediastinum in a gentle and robotic-assisted approach. Excellent results can be achieved.

Pleural Effusion and Pleural Empyema: State-of-the-Art- Art Diagnosis and Treatment Options

The pleural cavity is the space between the lung and the chest wall. It is lined by the lung's visceral pleural sheet and the chest wall's parietal pleural sheet. Under certain circumstances, fluid or pus can accumulate in the pleural cavity. A pleural effusion can have various causes, e.g., infections, injuries, heart failure, or tumors.

If pus accumulates in the pleural cavity, it is called pleural empyema, which can occur in patients suffering from pneumonia, an abscess, or cancer. In many cases, patients have no symptoms, but they may also experience pain and shortness of breath. Patients may feel stabbing pain, especially when taking a deep breath.

If surgery is necessary, Prof. Kocher can remove the fluid or the accumulation of pus using the keyhole technique and clean the area.

Hyperhidrosis: Effective Treatment for Severe Sweating

Excessive sweating can be very stressful and significantly restrict the social life of sufferers. Hyperhidrosis is caused by excessive stimulation of the sympathetic nerve fibers.

Prof. Kocher can prevent the overstimulation of the sympathetic nerve fibers in the area of the palms and armpits in a short procedure. The doctor uses a metal clip for the treatment. The procedure is carried out as part of a thoracoscopy; two small incisions in the armpit area are sufficient to alleviate the hyperhidrosis.

Minimally Invasive Treatment of Chest Wall Deformities such as Funnel Chest and Pigeon Chest

Malformations of the ribcage are relatively rare overall. The most common is the congenital funnel chest, which is associated with a depression of the sternum. In childhood, this condition can be treated satisfactorily with a suction cup. In puberty, however, the malformation must be corrected surgically.

To do this, Prof. Dr Kocher inserts a metal rod behind the sternum through two small incisions, which allows the sternum to be lifted and the funnel chest corrected. After two years, the metal rod can be removed, and the sternum retains its corrected shape.

A pigeon chest, on the other hand, is characterized by a protrusion of the sternum. If conservative treatment with a compression brace is no longer possible, surgery can be used. In this case, surgical correction is carried out using a metal rod. The rod is placed in front of the breastbone for the pigeon chest to straighten. Both procedures are carried out minimally invasively, and gently by Prof Dr Kocher.

Please visit the Gregor Kocher Thoracic Surgery website for more information.