Swiss clinics offer an exceptionally high standard of equipment, rapid adoption of new developments and a rigorous selection of licensed specialists for all operations, especially highly complex ones.

Visceral surgery covers the surgical treatment of the internal organs of the abdomen: the gastrointestinal tract, including the oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine and rectum; the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts; the pancreas, adrenal glands and spleen; as well as thyroid surgery.

The gastroenterology and hepatology departments of Swiss hospitals offer comprehensive treatment of the intestines, pancreas, stomach and liver. Switzerland is a leader in both education and research in this field.

Examples of visceral operations:

Stomach:

  • Gastric ulcer
  • Conversion operations

Liver:

  • Haemangiomas
  • Nodular hyperplasia
  • Adenomas
  • Liver cysts
  • Echinococcosis
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
  • Cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC)
  • Metastases
  • Thermal ablation (targeted treatment of cancerous areas and metastases by heating the tissue to 120 °C) (RFTA)

Small / large intestine:

  • Surgery for bowel obstruction
  • Surgery for internal adhesions in the intestines
  • Appendectomy
  • Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
  • Catheter placement (CAPD)

Hernia surgery:

  • Hernias
  • Inguinal / femoral hernia
  • Umbilical hernia
  • Hydrocele
  • Surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis
  • Surgical treatment of diverticula

Leading specialists in visceral surgery

Prof. Dr. med. Dieter Berger (surgeon, visceral surgeon, paediatric surgeon) – during his time in Baden-Baden, Professor Berger founded a large and renowned colon cancer centre, which attracted patients from the surrounding area and from all other regions.

Hernia surgery also deserves mention. Professor Berger played an important role in popularising laparoscopic techniques in hernia surgery across Europe and developed some of them himself.

Dr. Daniel Christen has headed the surgery department at Privatklinik Bethanien for more than 10 years and has over 20 years of practice in total. He has performed several thousand operations in visceral surgery, including more than a thousand laparoscopic procedures.

Dr Christen’s philosophy is to base treatment on advanced, proven medical technology and the latest scientific findings.