Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Transplantation Medicine, Essen: Prof. Dr med. Hartmut H.-J. Schmidt

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Prof. Dr med. Hartmut H.-J. Schmidt is a specialist in gastroenterology and hepatology and director of the Department for Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Transplant Medicine at Essen University Hospital. As a maximum care gastroenterological center, the department covers the entire spectrum of gastroenterology and hepatology. All diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the organs liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and spleen are diagnosed and treated.

The main focus of the Essen department for gastroenterology, hepatology, and transplant medicine is on the treatment of liver and bile duct diseases, the diagnosis and therapy of gastrointestinal tumors, the treatment of chronic inflammatory and functional intestinal disorders, diagnostic and interventional functional diagnostics and therapy, and clinical nutritional medicine.

In addition to the department for gastroenterology, hepatology, and transplant medicine, the medical center of Essen University Hospital also includes the department for endocrinology, diabetology and metabolism, the department for nephrology, and the department for neurology. It offers the most up-to-date medical and hygienic standards. A total of 69 beds in 4 nursing wards are available for the admission and treatment of inpatients. In addition, the central intensive care unit north of the center for emergency medicine and the interdisciplinary intensive care unit and monitoring station is located in the medical center.

First Choice for Liver Diseases: The Gastroenterology-Hepatology Department in Essen

The early detection of acute and chronic liver diseases is a challenge due to the often only unspecific or even entirely absent symptoms.

Complaints associated with liver diseases, such as constant fatigue, digestive complaints, chronic itching, and frequent nosebleeds, can be misinterpreted as "everyday complaints" and lead to a delay in the clarification and treatment of the disease.

Prof. Schmidt and his team of physicians have outstanding expertise in diagnosing and treating patients with liver disease. Treatment is carried out according to the latest standards of gastroenterology and hepatology. Since 1987, Essen University Hospital has been regarded as a nationally and internationally leading center in liver transplantation. The excellent reputation of the gastroenterology, hepatology, and transplant medicine department at Essen University Hospital leads to patient referrals far beyond the Ruhr region.

Specialists for the Treatment of Liver Cancer at Essen University Hospital

An essential focus of the department of gastroenterology, hepatology, and transplant medicine is the diagnosis and treatment of primary tumors of the liver, primarily hepatocellular carcinoma. Since the founding of the liver tumor center in Essen in 2007 and the establishment of its particular consultation hour, the department has developed into a nationwide focus center in this field.

Each case is discussed in an interdisciplinary liver tumor board to determine the most gentle and promising therapy for the individual patient. Through this, patients can be offered the entire spectrum of available drugs, interventional, nuclear medicine, and surgical therapy options.

Intensive Care for Chronic Gastrointestinal Diseases

The care of patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is becoming increasingly complex due to rapidly changing treatment options. The gastroenterology, hepatology, and transplantation medicine department has many years of experience in the multifaceted care of these complex clinical pictures with its special consultation hour for chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. In addition, there is close cooperation with the pediatric clinic to ensure a good transition from pediatrics to adult medicine.

Endoscopy: Reliable Diagnosis of Gastroenterological Diseases

The endoscopic section of the department of gastroenterology, hepatology, and transplant medicine offers an extensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic methods in the entire gastrointestinal tract and the liver, bile ducts, and pancreas. An experienced team guarantees the care of endoscopic emergencies on call at all times, i.e., 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A special focus is on the care of patients with complex diseases of the bile ducts, for example, in the context of congenital bile duct diseases, primary or secondary sclerosing cholangitis, and after surgeries on the bile ducts or the liver, including liver transplantation.

High Level of Expertise in the Field of Parenteral Nutrition.

Severe gastroenterological diseases and extensive surgeries on the gastrointestinal tract can lead to a temporary or even permanent need for artificial nutrition. Depending on the individual case, artificial nutrition can be provided via the remaining gastrointestinal tract (enteral nutrition) or entirely via the blood route (parenteral nutrition). The focus of care at the department is on patients with short bowel syndrome and chronic intestinal failure, in whom the adequate supply of macro- and micronutrients and trace elements must be individually adapted to each patient and carefully monitored—the medical team led by Professor Dr med. Hartmut H.J.-Schmidt has broad experience in this complex clinical picture.

Prof. Schmidt has special expertise in caring for patients with congenital or acquired short bowel syndrome. Due to surgical removal of intestinal segments or hereditary missing parts of the small intestine, nutrient absorption during intestinal passage can be severely disturbed, as insufficient exchange surface is available. In these cases, supplementing the missing minerals, nutrients, and vitamins parenterally is of utmost importance. At the same time, the remaining absorption capacity of the intestine should be maintained and supported by a steady intake of food by natural means.

Optimal and individually tailored nutritional therapy in combination with concomitant drug therapy can even improve the remaining absorptive capacity of the intestine to maximize the quality of life of those affected.

Please, visit Prof. Dr med. Hartmut H.-J. Schmidt’s website for more information.