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The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery specialty is defined as "the medical and surgical specialty dealing with the prevention, study, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the oral cavity and face, as well as the cervical structures that are directly or indirectly related to them".
The care provided at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital covers the following areas: outpatient visits, surgery, hospitalisation and accident and emergency services. Our Department is the only one in Catalonia with a 24-hour on-call system. This means we are a leading player in the Catalan public network.
We are also pioneers in innovation: in 2014, the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department became the first in Catalonia to use computer-assisted surgery in its operations. This paradigm shift in surgical practice is based on collaboration between medical professionals from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology and Anatomy Departments.
Computer-assisted surgery, which incorporates an intra-operative browser similar to a GPS device, offers a three-dimensional, real-time vision of the position of the instruments. This guarantees greater reliability and accuracy.
Furthermore, improvements in scanning and 3D imaging mean we can perform virtual simulations of any surgery thanks to what is known as "pre-operative virtual planning", as well as the aesthetic result of the operation, with Morphing 3D.
Since 2016, we have been pioneers in incorporating a technology platform to allow collaboration between medical professionals and engineers and technicians designing prostheses. This new tool improves patient recovery and allows surgeons to prepare for operations. It also creates a point of contact from the very outset with the engineers and technicians who work on personalised prostheses for each patient. A model of networking between several Hospital departments.
We offer highly specialised care through multidisciplinary units for the treatment of complex pathologies, such as maxillofacial oncology and microsurgical reconstruction of the base of the skull and salivary glands.
We are a group of highly qualified professionals in a cohesive, motivated team that handles the complex pathologies handled only by tertiary centres. These professionals are further renowned for their activity and participation in scientific societies.
All this guarantees more precise surgery that takes fewer hours and entails less risk for the patient. The next step is to design new biocompatible tissue, a line of research that the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) is already working hard to advance. The New Technologies and Craniofacial Microsurgery group of the Centre for Research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for Nanomedicine (CIBBIM) will study the application of new biomaterials in facial reconstructive surgery, cellular therapies with stem cells in the field of biomaterials, oncology and the use of new devices and biomarkers for early diagnosis in oral cancer.
Our Department is also involved in teaching at all levels: undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education, as well as research activity. These areas are a fundamental part of our activity.
The Abdominal Wall Surgery Unit is a part of the General Surgery Department and has a long tradition in this field. It deals with patients with generic pathologies and, above all, with complex wall pathologies, which is a field where many patients struggle to find an adequate solution to their problem when it is handled as a general surgery issue.
Vall d'Hebron University Hospital has a specific Unit in the field of abdominal wall surgery to help evolve from a specialist unit to a super-specialist unit. This evolution is due to the magnitude of the clinical-therapeutic information that is currently needed to treat general surgery and digestive tract patients in the most appropriate way. Abdominal wall surgery is fully defined and has its own section.
At our Unit, we offer the current forms of treatment used to tackle this pathology as well as lines of clinical research to constantly improve the treatment of these patients.
In terms of pre-clinical research, i.e. prior to studies with humans, our focus is on translational medicine (taking research from the laboratory to the patient), we have close links to the General Surgery Research Group and, in particular, with its Abdominal Wall Pathology Research Unit, led by Dr M. Antònia Arbós Via. Through this group, we aim to carry out pioneering research, both nationally and internationally.
Our Unit is structured at different levels, and can meet any and all needs thanks to this fusion of preclinical and clinical work.
The Haematology and Haemotherapy Department applies the specialty of haematology and haemotherapy. In accordance with the definition offered by the Spanish Society of Haematology and Haemotherapy, this is a clinical medical specialty as a branch of internal medicine, but it also plays a fundamental role in laboratory diagnosis.
At the Haematology Department, our mission is to provide care, teaching and research regarding haematology in adult patients. We deal with three main areas: clinical and diagnostic care, teaching, and research in the field of haematology.
We are a leading Department, renowned both at home and abroad for our level of specialisation in the field. We are leaders in care and in the research into new medications, thanks to the Clinical Trials Unit, which treats high-complexity haematological patients in Catalonia and the rest of Spain, offering the best treatments and the chance to access new drugs.
The Haematology Department currently comprises five sections:
Our Department offers patient care in three different areas:
The Haematology Day Hospital was set up in 2016 to care for patients in active treatment for haematological disorders that require regular outpatient follow-up. The space allows us to provide patient care on an outpatient basis and in walk-in visits, as well as to perform on-the-spot basic examinations and treatments and to follow up on cases on an individual basis. The design of these innovative facilities was carried out by a multidisciplinary group of professionals taking into account the needs of patients.
The Haematology Laboratory is part of the Clinical Laboratories, which also integrates the Transplant Unit, the Haematology Section and the Haemophilia Unit. These units provide specialist clinical care to haematological patients. The Haemostasis and Thrombosis Unit and the Haematological Diagnosis Section also carry out diagnoses. They provide specialist hospital care and primary care both within our Department and to many external centres. All laboratory activity aimed at adult and paediatric haematological patients is carried out through these units, as well as the diagnosis of haematological disorders in patients with other pathologies.
As a department at a leading, advanced hospital, the Haematology Department is responsible for intensive experimental and preclinical research, with testing of medications not yet suitable for human use, at the Laboratory of Experimental Haematology of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, where we study the biology of various haematological diseases and the activity of different drugs in experimentation, in order to provide the most personalised treatment plan possible.
The Haematology Clinical Trials Unit, which covers the fields of care and research, aims to develop and apply clinical trials from Phase I (new drugs) to Phase III (randomised studies). This Unit allows haematological patients to receive the best treatments with access to new drugs.
The Haematology Department is responsible for a significant amount of teaching, with both undergraduate teaching (medical students) and the training of medical residents in this specialty. We cover both theory and practice:
The main objective of the Pharmacy Department is the safe and efficient use of medication with the utmost excellence. Our Department supports care activity and is recognised as a collaborating centre of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), thanks to our role in preventing medication errors.
Our Department offers a consolidated portfolio of services, and we have a pharmaceutical team that monitors all registered prescriptions and pharmaceutical treatments.
We are responsible for distributing, dispensing and preparing medications with automatised systems and robotics, with one of the most significant technological systems in Europe. We use a system of drug-use indicators based on case histories to assess use of medication. This helps us detect opportunities for improvement, both in terms of security and reducing variability in clinical practice, meaning avoiding differences in the way our staff prescribe treatments.
The Department enjoys ISO 9001-2008 certification, which specifically covers prevention of medication errors. We have established a quality policy aimed at satisfying the needs and expectations of patients, and providing the services that contribute to improving quality of care through personalised attention for effective, efficient and safe drug treatment, while improving our systems.
Our main objective is to ensure our Department continues to contribute value to patients, bearing in mind the conditions at any given time in the Hospital, the Catalan Health Institute and the Catalan Health System in general. For this reason, between 2009 and 2015 we followed a strategic plan that uses the Balanced Scorecard methodology. This strategic plan takes into account new scenarios, social changes and emerging trends, which all necessitated a thorough review of our methodology, in a spirit of critical creativity and continuous improvement.
Rapid evolution in concepts and technology has resulted in the Pharmacy Department receiving several awards and honourable mentions for our clinical innovation and excellence.
At the Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplants Department at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, we are pioneers and a reference centre in lung transplants and the treatment of lung cancer with minimally invasive techniques.
Since the inauguration of the Department, in 1969, our goal has been to provide comprehensive care for patients suffering from thoracic surgical disease, to improve their quality of life using highly specialised techniques. To achieve this, our work with thoracic surgeons in multidisciplinary teams is key. This collaboration enriches us as professionals as well as people.
As for minimally invasive techniques, video-assisted thoracoscopy allows us to extract the pulmonary lobe with only two or three small incisions. With traditional techniques, this would require one incision of about 15 or 20 cm. This technique therefore causes less bleeding and has less impact on ventilation mechanics.
So the video-assisted thoracoscopy has less of an impact on the immune system and allows patients to get back to their normal life sooner. This technique requires high-precision accuracy, and can only be carried out by highly specialised professionals with a large amount of experience.
We are also the only hospital in Catalonia to carry out lung transplants for children and adults: the Thoracic Surgery Department was the first in Spain to carry out such a successful transplant in 1990.
At the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Transplant Department, we dedicate ourselves to hepatic (liver), pancreatic and biliary surgery, as well as cancer surgery. This mainly involves surgery related to the surgical and onco-surgical treatment of tumours or liver metastases, liver and bowel transplants in children and adults, and intestinal transplants. Our Children’s Liver Transplant Programme is the only one of its kind in Catalonia, and one of just five in Spain. Our excellent results make us a national leader.
The Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Transplant Department is highly specialised, and is independent of the General Surgery Department, which is not very common in general surgery departments. We are organised into two sections: one section devoted mainly to liver surgery and liver and intestine transplants, and another aimed at pancreatic surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgery.
Vall d'Hebron was the first health centre in Spain to carry out a paediatric liver transplant in 1985. With more than 30 years of accumulated experience acquired since the first transplant was carried out, the hospital is home to an amazing group of professionals: anaesthetists, intensivists, radiologists, gastroenterologists, hepatologists and more, all trained to treat the most complex cases with very high survival rates. This survival rate is more than 90% at five and six years after the transplant. We are deeply proud that we have been able to achieve such figures.
To do so, and to offer the best service to our patients, we work closely with other hospital departments, mainly with Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Intensive Care, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Radiology and Pathological Anatomy.
At the General and Digestive Surgery Department we provide care for patients who need surgical treatment. The professional team is divided into subspecialties, which means our professionals have a high degree of knowledge in various specific areas. This high level of specialisation, together with our research, is key to offering the best service and maintaining our place as leaders, both in Spain and in Europe, in the treatment of various diseases.
The General and Digestive Surgery Unit is divided up into four independent sub-units, each of which is a benchmark in its sub-speciality: The Colon and Rectal Surgery Unit, the Endocrine, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Unit, the Oesophagogastric Surgery Unit and the Abdominal Wall Surgery Unit.
This Department carries out activity across several areas: hospitalisation, emergencies, outpatient clinics and in local primary care centres: Chafarinas and Sant Andreu. Outpatient and walk in surgery is carried out at the Pere Virgili Health Park.
Our team of professionals are also members of various multidisciplinary teams, such as the Breast Pathology and Gynaecological Oncology Surgery units, both part of the Gynaecology Department. This multidisciplinary working method, together with our high level of specialisation, allow us to offer our patients the highest quality care.
The Surgical Block, which opened in 2016, means we can work in integrated operating theatres equipped with all the latest technology, which guarantees the highest quality and safety in surgery, ultimately leading to the best quality of care for our patients.
The General Surgery Service is part of the Research Institute’s General and Digestive Surgery Research Group (VHIR), as recognised by the Catalan government's University and Research Grant Management Agency (AGAUR) (2017 SGR 1476)
At Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, we have a teaching unit that trains postgraduate students in general and digestive surgery. We regularly organise continued education courses accredited by the Catalan Council for Continuing Education in the Health Professions, and we actively participate in teaching as part of the medical degree course at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital Teaching Unit, part of the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and the PhD Programme of the Surgery Department of the UAB.
The Colon and Rectal Surgery Unit is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies of the colon, rectum and anus.
The Colon and Rectal Surgery Unit is a reference centre for this type of operation, and is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the colon, rectum and anus. Currently, the medical team is made up of surgeons who are devoted exclusively to coloproctology.
The Cardiology Department diagnoses and treats heart diseases. These include ischaemic heart diseases such as myocardial infarcts and angina. As well as cardiac insufficiency, valvulopathies, familial heart disease and arrhythmias.
Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of premature death in most developed countries.
The Vall d’Hebron Cardiology Department offers specialist care, with advanced procedures and the most innovative technology. It is a pioneer in developing and running clinical-practice protocols. It provides patient-centred service and offers medical care agreed on by the entire Cardiology team. Notable features include its own Clinical Epidemiology Unit and Experimental Cardiology Laboratory.
The Cardiology Department boasts 37 highly qualified professionals, with specific skills and training. The team is divided up into the following units:
These units are at the forefront of heart-disease treatment and offer multidisciplinary care for patients. The department aims to meet the future challenges of cardiology. A few examples of this are the Familial Heart Disease and Complex Congenital Heart Disease Units. And procedures such as transcatheter valve implanting and treatment for pregnant women with heart disease or endocarditis.
The nursing team is also a key feature for offering excellent care. They take part in every diagnostic and therapeutic procedure, in educating patients, in secondary prevention for the early detection of diseasesand in patient rehabilitation. Their work is especially important for elderly patients with multiple illnesses. Such patients have several programmes at their disposal, including clinical care and cardiac rehabilitation for ischaemic heart disease. The programmes are provided in coordination with the referred area’s primary care and gyms.
The research group in cardiovascular diseases carries out basic, clinical and epidemiological research. Its aim is to generate knowledge for improving prevention and patient diagnoses and treatment. The group has 19 main researchers and 32 clinical projects and trials currently running. It published 142 papers in 2020.
The research group is part of the CIBERCV network, the Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Cardiovascular Diseases. It collaborates in the following areas:
The research group takes part in the CIBERESP, the Biomedical Research Networking Consortium on Epidemiology and Public Health. It focuses on the following aspects:
The Vall d’Hebron training programme includes:
The Cardiology MIR programme’s success enables the recruitment of high-level doctors to the hospital.
The Cardiology Department also includes and jointly supervises an international doctoral school at the University of Barcelona as well as organising important scientific meetings. Vall d’Hebron enjoys international recognition for all the above reasons as well as considerable impact on many areas of knowledge. The department’s professionals collaborate in prestigious international bodies and societies, as well as on the editorial boards of scientific magazines in their field.
The Cardiac Surgery Department provides care for patients with heart diseases who need an operation. This branch of medicine is highly specialised and requires expert staff. Our department is a pioneer in the Catalan public health system that has grown significantly since it was officially created on 24 January 1972.
Our current catchment area covers over one million people from the north-eastern part of Catalonia, including the counties of Girona and Lleida and the north of the Barcelonès county. This is an extensive geographical area, though its population density is lower than others.
Our activity at the Cardiac Surgery Department has been linked to the history of medicine and, more specifically, to the history of cardiac surgery in Catalonia. The Department's development, then, has been made possible thanks to the advances made in cardiac surgery and cardiology in general. Also relevant here is its expansion, from an initial national health system that developed into the current regional health system, regulated by the Catalan Health Service through the Catalan Health Institute.
The history of our Department dates back to the 1960s, when Dr. Paravisini performed the first surgical operations to repair the mitral valve in the heart, known as "mitral comissurotomies”. The following years saw the beginnings of cardiac surgery using extracorporeal circulation, a technique employed for replacing the heart’s function as a pump and enabling the heart to be stopped and operated on. Surgical operations became standard by the end of the 1970s. It was not until the 80s, however, with the arrival of Dr. Murtra, that there could be said to be a protocol-based programme of operations that produced pioneering results at the time. The number of patients treated has steadily increased: from 400 cases a year using extracorporeal circulation in the 1980s, to 600 at present.
The current catchment area covers over one million people from the north-eastern part of Catalonia, which includes the counties of Girona and Lleida and the north of the Barcelonès county. This is an extensive geographical area, though its population density is lower than others. We created the Multihospital Care Service to provide care for this area.
Resident cardiovascular surgeons and other specialist doctors working as locums for our Department, jointly take part in pre-operative studies with the Department team, both in surgical indications and in surgical procedures, with a varying degree of involvement, depending on their level of training. These doctors join the Post-Operative Cardiac Surgery Unit (UPCC) immediately after cardiac surgery, provide postoperative care on the ward, and take part in monitoring patients through outpatient consultations.
Units making up the Department
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