Halle receives a unique pulmonary emphysema center in Central Germany!

Halle receives a unique pulmonary emphysema center in Central Germany!

The Halle University Medical Center and the Martha-Maria Halle-Dölau Hospital have established themselves as the only certified pulmonary emphysema center in Central Germany. This was confirmed by certification by the Pulmonary Emphysema Register e.V., which was carried out on behalf of several specialist societies. This makes them one of the few facilities in Germany that have earned such an award, as there are only a total of eight certified pulmonary emphysema centers nationwide. The certification is a sign of the high quality standards pursued in the diagnosis, therapy and follow-up care of patients with pulmonary emphysema.

A particularly challenging disease is COPD, i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is triggered by smoking, pollutants or genetic factors. In advanced stages, this leads to pulmonary emphysema, where the alveoli are ultimately irretrievably destroyed. In Halle, those affected not only receive extensive treatment, but also monitoring through weekly conferences by experts in the fields of pulmonology, thoracic surgery and radiology. In this way, individual therapeutic approaches are discussed and determined for each patient.

Comprehensive treatment options

Various treatment options are available at the center, ranging from drug therapy to oxygen or ventilation therapies. In more severe cases, minimally invasive procedures or surgical measures to reduce lung volume are used. Optimal basic therapy, including smoking cessation, is considered a prerequisite for any treatment. These measures are particularly important because emphysema is often underdiagnosed because symptoms are often recognized late or confused with other diseases.

Lung volume reduction (LVR) is a specific treatment option used for severe pulmonary emphysema with severe hyperinflation. Various methods can be used with the aim of alleviating shortness of breath and increasing the performance of the respiratory muscles. This includes endoscopic procedures such as the attachment of pulmonary valves or the removal of emphysematous lung areas, which are usually minimally invasive.

Quality assurance and research

In the pulmonary emphysema center in Halle, a detailed screening is carried out, which includes blood tests, lung function tests and other imaging procedures. Based on these examinations, experts develop an individual treatment concept for the patients. This approach not only ensures that every patient receives the best possible care, but also contributes to ongoing research into new treatment methods and special procedures for patients with anatomical limitations.

The quality of therapy is continually being improved, as the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has confirmed. Decisions regarding the benefits of lung volume reduction aim to provide clarity about treatment options for patients with severe pulmonary emphysema. There is no question that the close cooperation between the Halle University Medical Center and the Martha-Maria Hospital makes a decisive contribution to ensuring that patients here are in the best hands.

It is important for those affected to know that treating emphysema is not an easy matter, but with the right support and therapeutic measures there is hope for improving quality of life. Those responsible at the Pulmonary Emphysema Center are ready to help patients on their journey.