Department of Medical Gastroenterology CA

The department provides care of patients with gastrointestinal disease requiring medical treatment.

Clinical activities
The clinic has a long history in managing intestinal failure patients, who temporally or permanently have lost bowel function. The department is a referral centre taking in patients from the eastern regions of Denmark.

Multidisciplinary approach
A team that offers a professional and multidisciplinary approach to patients with intestinal failure requiring parenteral or enteral nutrition for longer periods, staffs the unit. We perform a nutritional assessment, design the nutrition regime and manage metabolic derangement, fistula/wound and stoma related issues. For the patients with chronic intestinal failure, we continue to offer support for education and training with nutritional support at home, home parenteral nutrition (HPN).

Also this unit has a long history evaluating and taking care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, primarily patients who present with severe complications, fistula etc.

The unit has close collaboration with the department of surgical gastroenterology at Rigshospitalet.

Geography/location
The department has an outpatient clinic and currently monitors 180 patients on home parenteral treatment.

The department is located in section 3-12-4 and currently has 32 beds. The outpatient clinic is located at section 3-16-4.

Research and teaching activities
Balance studies are the cornerstone in the evaluation of intestinal function in patients with intestinal failure. This allows a precise evaluation of the nutritional need of energy and fluids of the individual patient. Using this tool research activities focus on the possible rehabilitation of intestinal function using GLP-2, a trophic hormone that stimulates intestinal function.

Other areas of interest are metabolic bone disease in inflammatory bowel disease and short bowel syndrom. We have established at database of all patients included in the HPN program and the research program aimes at improving quality care for patients with chronic intestinal failure.

The department is involved in the pre- and postgraduate education activities, collaborating with the University of Copenhagen.

If you need any further information about the clinical or research releated activities, please contact:

Clinical activities: Michael Staun, PhD,MD. Mail: michael.staun@regionh.dk

Research activities: Palle Bekker Jeppesen, PhD, MD. Mail: palle.bekker.jeppesen@regionh.dk