Range of Services

Diagnostics and therapy of diseases of the bronchia as well as of the lungs form the centre of medical attention. At the Pneumological Centre, founded in 1988 under the direction of Prof. Dr. med. Peter Dorow, basic diagnostics and checks for confirming diagnostic theories are carried out. By applying the so-called "staging" checks, the eventual tumor spread can be monitored, and by checking possible metastases, the effectiveness and necessity of surgery may be verified.

There are also large departmental areas for pneumological and cardiological checks, a Centre for Sleep Medicine and an interdisciplinary Intensive Care Unit.

This clinic focuses mainly on treatment of lung diseases - particularly therapy of lung cancer, pulmonary metastases (tumour spread within the lungs), and emphysema (pulmonary over-inflation).

During bronchoscopy, all interventional procedures are applied, such as laser therapy, photodynamical therapy, endobronchial radiotherapy of small areas, and the implanting of stents into the bronchial tubes. To provide early diagnosis of cancer of the bronchia, special forms of check-ups such as "autofluorescence bronchoscopy", for instance, are carried out. When indicated, special checks like endosonography of the bronchia as well as the thorax can be applied.

All surgery on lungs, respiratory tree, pericardial vessels, costal pleura and chest wall is performed with the help of highly sophisticated modern equipment such as lung laser and digital video technique.

In the department of Surgery and Thoracic Surgery of the DRK Kliniken Berlin | Mitte under the direction of Dr. med. Paul Schneider, special emphasis is put on tissue-sparing surgical techniques (bronchoplastical operations, so-called sleeve resections). Thereby it is often possible to avoid resection of a complete lobe of the lung and to ensure higher load capacity and better lung function for the patient. This implies, naturally, a higher quality of life. Postoperatively, a newly refurbished, modern intensive care unit which was opened in 2006, offers the necessary security to the patient during the first few days.

Performed in 3 operating theatres will be approximately 1,600 operations per year. Here, the new Nd-YAG laser is available. Designed specifically for lung surgery, it has special features that allow cutting of lung tissue. With this new laser, the thoracic surgeon is in a position to cut clear through lung tissue, whereby metastases and tumors can be removed securely considering the nature of the disease.

Thus, the prognosis of our patients can be further improved. Directly after surgery, pain management therapy is coordinated with the Department of Anesthesiology and the Intensive Care Unit.

By applying a pain catheter after surgery, patients are able to codetermine the dosage of pain relieving substances.