Bariatric Surgery Vienna (Austria) Prof. Dittrich

Head Physician G.-Prof. Dr. med. Univ. Klaus Dittrich is a specialist in obesity surgery in Vienna and works as an attending physician with a private practice in the surgical department of the private hospital Rudolfinerhaus. Prof. Dittrich directs the entire surgical department at the Landesklinikum Korneuburg / Stockerau (Lower Austria).

Besides his specialization in surgeries for severely overweight patients, Dr. Dittrich is also familiar with the field of visceral surgery - including tumor surgery, especially for tumors of the stomach, intestines, and pancreas.

Rudolfinerhaus - Inpatient Stay with all Conveniences  

The Rudolfinerhaus, which has been a private hospital for 125 years, is one of the most beautiful clinics in Austria. It combines tradition in the fields of medicine, nursing, and training. As far as the medical facilities of the hospital are concerned, it is equipped at the highest level for high-tech diagnostics and advanced treatment methods. Besides, patients are offered hotel-like service in the luxuriously appointed rooms, which complements the medical performance of the clinic team. In this respect, the Rudolfinerhaus is unique in Austria, as it has specially trained hotel staff who ensure the comfort of the patients.

Special Service for Patients from Abroad

Prof. Dittrich offers telemedical remote consultation via Skype, especially for patients from abroad. In preparation for this telephone consultation, which lasts a maximum of 20 minutes, existing documents (findings, etc.) must be provided in German or English. The patient receives a medical report with the results obtained from the consultation — the costs of this consultation amount to 250 €, which must be paid in advance.

Obesity - Threat to Health of Body and Soul

More and more people suffer from pathological overweight. People with a body mass index (BMI) above 40 are considered obese. Obesity can not only lead to life-threatening diseases - but it also leads to social exclusion. Many severely overweight people are extremely restricted in their mobility and can no longer participate in social activities, which often results in depression and loss of motivation. Obese people are often not able to achieve weight reduction on their own. For these people, obesity surgery is a possibility to reduce their weight significantly and particularly in the long term.

Adiposity Surgery – Good-Bye to Morbid Overweight

Adiposity surgery is a specialty of visceral surgery (viscera = intestines) and is used to fight pathological overweight. For this purpose, a modification of the gastrointestinal tract is carried out. The surgeries can be carried out minimally invasive, i.e., the surgical procedure is usually gentler and puts significantly less strain on the body than conventional (= open) surgeries.

Obesity and Metabolic Diseases Are Accompanied

Adiposity (obesity) often occurs together with metabolic diseases, which form the "metabolic syndrome." The treatment of these metabolic diseases falls within the specialized field of metabolic/obesity surgery. These metabolic diseases include diabetes mellitus type 2, insulin resistance in diabetes, lipometabolic disorders (dyslipidemia), sleep apnea, and hypertension (high blood pressure). Thanks to metabolic surgery, these metabolic diseases can be significantly improved. After surgery, insulin therapy for diabetes can become redundant, and other conditions usually improve within a year parallel with weight loss.

Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy - The Most Common Options for Stomach Reduction

Prof. Dittrich offers various individually adapted surgical procedures for this purpose: The most common are the gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy. Gastric bypass involves a reduction of the stomach size and bypassing the upper small intestine. By reducing the size of the stomach, food intake is reduced to minimal amounts, and by bypassing the upper small intestine, the breakdown of food components begins later. As a result, the body is provided with fewer food components. Especially, diabetes patients benefit from this method. In contrast, the gastric sleeve reduces the stomach volume, and the digestive capacity is maintained. In both cases, an inpatient stay of 3 and 7 days is necessary.

Consultation is Essential

Not every procedure in obesity surgery is equally suitable for every obese person. That is why Professor Dittrich makes it an essential concern to find solutions that are precisely oriented to each patient's needs. A consultation before surgery plays a decisive role in this respect. Because every obese patient has a personal history, this must be taken into account. Not only BMI, eating habits, behavioral patterns, and lifestyle, but also possible concomitant diseases play an important role. All this is taken into account when choosing a particular surgical procedure. Sometimes the patient's state of health allows only a step-by-step procedure - in this case, surgeries must be carried out in stages to minimize the risk.

Additional Surgical Procedures at the Vienna Obesity Surgery

Besides, these two standard procedures, Prof. Dittrich also offers surgical alternatives, which are selected according to the patient's personal medical history. For example, Prof. Dittrich's main focuses of treatment include using a gastric balloon (swallowing balloon), the adjustable gastric band, biliopancreatic diversion (BPD), and plastic follow-up procedures such as the removal of excess skin or fat aprons.

The Adjustable Gastric Band

In this laparoscopic procedure for reducing the stomach size, the specialist for adiposity surgery in Vienna lays silicone tape around a part of the stomach, so the patient can only eat minimal amounts of food and feels less hungry. The gastric band can be filled with a liquid, which allows the obesity expert to tighten or widen the band and control the amount of food consumed as needed.

The Gastric Balloon

This non-surgical treatment of obesity is a temporary supportive measure. Usually, a gastric balloon remains in the stomach for about six months. The silicone balloon is inserted endoscopically into the stomach and filled with an individually adjusted amount of fluid. A gastric balloon is suitable for obese people who are confident that even after this period and corresponding weight reduction, they will be able to make a lasting change in their diet and lifestyle.

Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD)

The laparoscopic procedure is suitable for patients with extreme obesity with a BMI above 55. The minimally invasive surgery includes a radical reduction of the stomach, a significant shortening of the small intestine, and the removal of the gallbladder. As a result, food can now only be absorbed by the body to a minimal extent.

Professor Dittrich is Also There for You After the Surgery

In addition, Prof. Dittrich sets a high value on subsequent medical care for operated patients. A nutritionist is available for the patients. Even after a procedure involving adiposity surgery, proper nutrition is of great significance. Dr. Dittrich offers his patients radiological care to prevent postoperative complications as far as possible.

Due to his years-long practical surgical experience, Prof. Dittrich is an acknowledged authority in his field and is present as a speaker at many congresses.

See more on Dr. Dittrich’s website.