Essen Pediatric Surgery: Univ.-Prof. Dr Berger

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Prof. Dr Michael Berger, is a specialist in pediatric surgery and director of the Clinics for Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery in Essen at Universitätsklinikum Essen and Elisabeth-Krankenhaus Essen.

The Clinics for Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery in Essen at Universitätsklinikums Essen and Elisabeth-Krankenhaus Essen work closely together and are led across both locations by Prof. Berger, with the goal of consolidating pediatric surgical expertise in Essen, optimizing treatment processes, and sustainably improving care for premature infants, newborns, children, and adolescents. This close professional, organizational, and structural collaboration ensures uniform quality standards, coordinated treatment plans, and expanded staffing resources. Families benefit from short distances, a large interdisciplinary team, and complementary areas of expertise across the entire spectrum of pediatric and adolescent surgery.

Prof. Berger’s team treats congenital and acquired disorders in children, from the prenatal and neonatal periods through infancy and early childhood all the way to adulthood. At the Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen, children are always treated using a holistic, interdisciplinary approach.

Modern Pediatric Surgery – Children Are Not Little Adults

The surgical treatment of the smallest patients is especially challenging because many anatomical and physiological conditions of the body differ significantly between children and adults. Thus, knowledge of the specifics of pediatric pathologies is a necessary key to successful treatment. In particular, the surgical treatment of children is very demanding due to their small size and unique metabolism.

A particularly gentle surgical approach is, for example, the minimally invasive keyhole surgery, which is highly modern and can also be used in children in many cases. Prof. Dr Berger is a proven expert in minimally invasive pediatric surgery. During his training in the U.S., he first specialized in surgical techniques using the keyhole method in children and then in hepatobiliary and transplantation surgery of the liver and kidney in children.

Liver Surgery in Children

Prof. Berger and his team are experts in the field of liver and biliary tract diseases in children. For example, rare liver tumors are treated surgically here. The Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen specializes in particular in biliary atresia, a congenital blockage of the bile ducts that requires surgical treatment. In the best-case scenario, this can be corrected through surgery (Kasai hepatoportoenterostomy).

In addition, the Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen offers treatment for the rare Abernethy malformation. In this condition, there is a connection between the portal vein and the circulatory system of the right heart or its vena cava. As a result, blood from the gastrointestinal tract enters the systemic circulation partially or completely, bypassing the liver. This condition is often accompanied by other malformations, such as heart defects or liver tumors.

In certain cases, the disease progression in young patients is severe enough to require a liver transplant. The Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen is a leading center for this procedure and offers so-called SPLIT transplants. In these procedures, parents can donate parts of their own liver to their children.

Visceral Pediatric Surgery

Visceral surgery includes the treatment of diseases of the intestine (e.g., chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, circulatory disorders) and abdominal organs. These include the various stomach, liver and gall bladder, pancreas, and spleen diseases. Today, many surgical procedures can be carried out without opening the entire abdominal cavity, referred to as a laparoscopic approach (keyhole surgery).

One of the most common conditions treated surgically in this way is appendicitis. The Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen specializes in conditions that primarily affect children and adolescents and therefore require specialized expertise. These include, among others, necrotizing enterocolitis (intestinal inflammation, a medical emergency in newborns) and a persistent omphalomesenteric duct (a connection between the navel and the intestine that normally regresses during embryonic development).

Innovative surgical treatments for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in young patients

The Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen is a specialized surgical center for treating Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in children and adolescents. Using a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach, the hospital offers state-of-the-art surgical procedures to deliver optimal care for young patients with these inflammatory bowel diseases.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic conditions that can significantly impair the quality of life for affected children and adolescents. When medical treatments are insufficient to control symptoms, or when complications arise, surgical intervention becomes necessary. The Department of Pediatric Surgery in Essen is distinguished by a wide range of surgical options tailored to each patient's needs.

The hospital's team of highly skilled pediatric surgeons, gastroenterologists, and other specialists work closely together to develop personalized treatment plans. Surgical procedures aim to alleviate symptoms, manage complications, and improve long-term outcomes. These may include bowel resection, stricturoplasty, ileostomy, or colectomy, among others.

The Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen is known for its expertise in minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery. These methods offer numerous advantages, including smaller incisions, less pain, faster recovery, and better cosmetic results. In addition, they can be particularly beneficial for pediatric patients, as they minimize the physical and emotional impact of surgery.

The specialized pediatric surgery center places great emphasis on compassionate care and patient education. The medical team ensures that children, adolescents, and their families are well informed about surgical procedures, potential risks, and expected outcomes. This collaborative approach creates a supportive environment and empowers patients to actively participate in their treatment decisions.

Thanks to its commitment to excellence, innovation, and patient-centered care, the Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen is a leading center for the surgical treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in children and adolescents. The hospital strives to optimize outcomes and improve the quality of life for young patients living with these challenging conditions by integrating advanced surgical techniques with a comprehensive approach.

Cancer Surgery in Children

Childhood cancers are fortunately rare but require safe and, at the same time, particular therapy due to their special status. In childhood, malignant and benign tumor diseases differ from cancer diseases in adult patients. In addition, specific clinical pictures such as hepatoblastoma (tumor of the liver), nephroblastoma (tumor of the kidney), or neuroblastoma (tumor of the nervous system) usually only occur in children and thus require unique expertise in treatment.

The Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen operates on such tumors through interdisciplinary collaboration with specialists from the relevant fields. Other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, are also provided here. Young patients receive individualized care, from diagnosis to final treatment. Since completing his doctorate, Prof. Berger has focused his scientific research on the biological interactions at the interface between malignant tumors and the immune system. Prof. Berger’s research is highly regarded within the field of academic pediatric surgery. His work is clinically relevant for innovative treatment strategies for a wide range of pediatric tumors.

Pediatric Urology

Congenital and acquired diseases of the kidney, urinary tract, and genital organs represent another field of pediatric surgery. Malformations of the kidney such as double kidneys or a non-functioning kidney can be surgically removed if necessary. Diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections, urinary complaints, and malformations of the urinary tract are also possible in cooperation with specialists in urology.

Special malformations of the genitals, for example, a defective orifice of the urethra, phimosis, or undescended testicles, can also be treated. In many cases, pronounced anomalies are already visible prenatally on ultrasound and can thus be discussed at an early stage, and possible interventions can be planned in detail.

Some kidney diseases lead to kidney failure despite adequate treatment. Dialysis is a form of renal replacement therapy. The necessary preparatory procedures, such as creating specific access points, are routinely carried out. In addition, Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen is a specialized center for pediatric kidney transplants.

Transition – Long-Term Concepts into Adulthood

The term transition covers the medical transition of children into adulthood with all its changes. For example, many congenital diseases require lifelong therapy, which must be adapted to the respective age and individual development. These include conditions such as spina bifida or short bowel syndrome. Comprehensive care is essential for such cases.

At the Clinic for Pediatric Surgery in Essen, a specialized treatment plan is developed for this patient group; collaboration between the pediatric surgery department and the specialized adult surgery department is a key feature. The transition is seamless, thereby avoiding an abrupt break from the care environment to which patients have become accustomed over the years. Providing the best possible medical care is just as much a priority as patient satisfaction.

Please visit the websites of the Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery at Universitätsklinikum in Essen and the Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery at Elisabeth-Krankenhaus in Essen for more information.