Unconscious processes
Most of the processes in our body take place unconsciously and unnoticed. Although we can control our breathing, if we don't, we continue to breathe. Everything we eat and drink is processed in the stomach and intestines with the help of the liver, pancreas and gall bladder. A multitude of chemical processes ensure that the food is optimally utilised, that vital nutrients are obtained and that toxins are flushed out of our body. Sometimes, when we have too much of a good thing, such as after a sumptuous, very fatty meal, we feel the digestive tract struggling. The food "lies heavy in the stomach", we are told.
Gastroenterology
However, if digestive problems persist, if stomach and intestinal complaints increase, the symptoms should be clarified. The medical field of internal medicine that specialises in the entire digestive tract is known as gastroenterology. At Ulm University Hospital, you will find specialists in this field in the Department of Internal Medicine I. In addition to ultrasound examinations and imaging procedures, the oesophagus, stomach and large intestine can also be examined directly using endoscopic techniques. If necessary, the gastroenterologists are supported by the internal medicine specialists from the Clinics for Internal Medicine II and III during treatment, for example in the case of cardiovascular diseases, lung problems or infectious diseases.
General and visceral surgery
However, if conservative treatment is not sufficient in some cases, surgery is unavoidable. The surgeons at the Clinic for General and Visceral Surgery specialise in operations, particularly in the abdominal cavity, and are highly experienced in all surgical procedures on the organs of the digestive tract. Complicated operations on the liver and pancreas can also be performed here. Experienced experts who specialise in thoracic surgery are also required for operations on the lungs.
In the case of cancer, the interdisciplinary cooperation of all specialists has proven its worth, who discuss the best treatment for each patient in joint tumour conferences. At Ulm University Hospital, there is a certified bowel centre for the diagnosis and treatment of all types of bowel cancer and a sarcoma centre, where soft tissue tumours (sarcomas) are treated with great expertise.
