El Hospital Ramón y Cajal, puntero en Cirugía Oncológica Esofagogástrica, Bariátrica y Mínimamente invasiva

The Ramón y Cajal University Hospital is a major regional and university centre that serves a tertiary population of about 750.000 habitants of the North/West of Madrid (Spain). The Department of General Surgery is divided in several Units (Esophagogastric and Bariatric, Colorrectal, Hepato-biliopancreatic and Breast/Endocrine Surgery) being its principal activity the treatment of malignant diseases where it is a centre of reference for the Community of Madrid.

 

The Division of Esophagogastric and Bariatric Surgery is dedicated to achieve the highest standard of clinical care to patients suffering from disorders of the esophagus and stomach. Specialist services include the assessment and treatment of patients with swallowing problems, esophageal motility diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease, heartburn and regurgitation symptoms, benign and malignant tumors of the esophagus, stomach, and metabolic and bariatric surgery for morbid obesity.

 

A multidisciplinary approach is used to treat esophageal and gastric cancers in collaboration with the Department of Clinical and Radiotherapy Oncology, Radiology, Pathology and Gastroenterology, so many selected patients undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy, as well as postoperative therapies. Together with better results of surgery, the overall survival of patients with esophago-gastric malignancies has improved over the years.

 

The Division of Esophagogastric and Bariatric Surgery has 5 consultant surgeons. Nearly 100-120 cases per year including benign and malignant diseases were performed last year (50 cases of esophagogastric benign diseases, 40 gastrectomies for adenocarcinoma, 15 esophagectomies for esophageal cancer and 6 resections for treatment of gastric GIST). Most part of all these procedures was performed through a minimally invasive approach in one state-of-the-art digital theatres. Our Division is a well renowned Unit in Spain being one of the groups with more experience in Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for the treatment of Gastric Cancer.

 

The activity of the Unit is parallel completed with a strong MDT of Bariatric Surgery, consisting of Endocrinologists, Dieticians, Psychiatrists, Anaesthesiologists, Gastroenterologists, Plastic surgeons and Bariatric Nurses. We performed approximately 120 procedures a year including laparoscopic Gastric Bypasses, Sleeve Gastrectomy and re-do surgeries. However, this number is likely to expand by 2017. Moreover, our Unit is considered a centre of excellence in bariatric surgery and offers training to many surgeons all around the country.

 

Finally, the Department of General Surgery of Ramón y Cajal Univesity Hospital has been pioneered in the implantation of advanced laparoscopic surgery. Indeed, it has been enrolled in the training of several surgeons in this field, so several courses of formation have been organized in the last years, including a Master in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery (Alcalá de Henares University), workshops, clinical and experimental courses for residents and consultant surgeons…