News
Archive (Posts older than one year)
March 2025
ZweiChirurgen with a new publication
PD Dr. Hoffmann and Prof. Dr. Kirchhoff could publish a new review article in the renown Journal of Abdominal Wall Surgery.
The article deal with the question if intraperitoneal meshes (e.g. IPOM technique) can cause adhesion to solid organs such as small bowel.
ZweiChirurgen at major hernia congress in India
PD Dr. Henry Hoffmann was an invited speaker and chairman at this year’s major hernia congress AWR Deep Impact in Chennai, India. More than 1400 surgeons from all over the world came to the Indian metropolis of millions to discuss the latest trends and developments in hernia surgery.
PD Dr. Hoffmann gave five lectures and was chairman in numerous sessions.
March 4th is International HPV Day
What is HPV?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that can infect the skin and mucous membranes, particularly around the genitals or anus. There are over 200 different types of HPV, some of which are harmless, while others can cause serious health problems.
There are different types of HPV
- low-risk HPV: these types (e.g. HPV 6 and 11) usually cause harmless skin or genital warts.
- high-risk HPV: Certain types (e.g. HPV 16 and 18) are associated with an increased risk of cancer, particularly cervical cancer, but also anal cancer, penile cancer and certain head and neck tumors.
How is HPV transmitted?
HPV is mainly transmitted through direct contact with the skin or mucous membranes, especially through sexual contact. As the virus is very contagious, it can also be passed on without sexual intercourse through skin contact (e.g. petting). It is assumed that almost all people become infected with HPV at the start of sexual activity.
Symptoms and diseases
In almost 90% of infections, an HPV infection goes unnoticed, without symptoms and heals itself. In some cases, warts develop in the genital area or on other parts of the body. Infection with a high-risk HPV can cause cell changes that can develop into cancer over a period of years (e.g. cervical cancer, anal cancer).
Prevention of HPV infection
The HPV vaccination protects against infection by the most dangerous HPV types and is particularly recommended for young people before their first sexual contact. Condoms reduce the risk of infection, but do not offer complete protection, as HPV can also be transmitted via skin contact. Therefore, regular check-ups, e.g. at the gynaecologist (smear test on the uterus), are important in order to detect early cell changes. In the case of anal HPV infections, a proctologist (e.g. ZweiChirurgen) should be consulted.
January 2025
ZweiChirurgen Annual Report 2024
Our Annual Report 2024 is available for download.
December 2024
ZweiChirurgen for Aid in Gambia
Two surgeons were able to help in Gambia again this year! Prof. Philipp Kirchhoff operated on 25 hernia patients for a week as part of the Jump aid project. The diversity of the country and the gratitude of the patients are priceless.
If you would like to support this project in the future, please donate!
Bank details Switzerland
Subject: JUMP Project
ZweiChirurgen conclude a successful workshop season
PD Dr Hoffmann and Dr Nowakowski held the last surgical workshop of the year this week. Surgeons from St. Gallen and central Switzerland attended. The topic was the atraumatic fixation of hernia meshes during inguinal hernia surgery.
November 2024
ZweiChirurgen with new publication
PD Dr Hoffmann and Prof Dr Kirchhoff have collaborated with numerous authors from all over the world on the new specialist book Robot-assisted hernia surgery. They have written a chapter on the subject of «When is competitive sport allowed again after hernia surgery».
ZweiChirurgen at the German Hernia Days
PD Dr. Hoffmann was active as an expert at the Hernia Days of the German Hernia Society (DHG). He gave lectures on rectus diastasis and open surgical techniques on the abdominal wall to 400 participants from all over Germany.
October 2024
PD Dr Hoffmann elected President of the Swiss Hernia Society (SAHC)
At the General Assembly of the SAHC during the Swiss Hernia Days, PD Dr Hoffmann was unanimously elected President of the Swiss Hernia Society (SAHC). At the same time, a new Board was elected, which will now lead the SAHC with PD Dr. Hoffmann for the next two years. The aim is to further develop hernia surgery in Switzerland, improve training and promote political networking with other specialist societies at national and international level.
ZweiChirurgen with successful «Swiss Hernia Days»
Prof. Dr. Kirchhoff and PD Dr. Hoffmann successfully organized and held the Swiss Hernia Days for the 7th time. For the first time, however, the conference was held in the «Frank Gehry Building» on the Novartis campus in Basel.
With 320 participants from Switzerland and abroad, a record number of attendees was set. 30 renowned hernia experts from Switzerland and abroad came to Basel to discuss the latest developments in hernia surgery with the participants. Other highlights of the Swiss Hernia Days included the anatomical workshop at the Basel Anatomical Institute and the “hands-on” robot workshop.
ZweiChirurgen active at the «World Congress of Abdominal Wall Hernia Surgery» in Singapore
PD Dr. Henry Hoffmann was an invited speaker and chairman at the World Congress of Abdominal Wall Hernia Surgery in Singapore. More than 1000 participants from all over the world came to the Asian metropolis to discuss the latest developments in hernia surgery.
PD Dr. Hoffmann gave a lecture on New minimally invasive techniques and chaired various sessions. He also took part in the board meeting of the International Endohernia Society (IEHS).
ZweiChirurgen successfully operate on professional cyclist
The Italian professional cyclist Giacomo Nizzolo from the Swiss racing team Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team suffered injuries in a crash during a cycling race in France. He was subsequently operated successfully by ZweiChirurgen and can now start preparing for the next season.
We wish Giacomo Nizzolo all the best and a successful 2025
September 2024
ZweiChirurgen in Wien at the «Scientific Diner»
PD Dr Hoffmann was an invited speaker and expert on the topic of new mesh technologies and their application in hernia surgery and rectus diastases. Intensive discussions took place in a small group with colleagues from Austria and Germany.
ZweiChirurgen at the CHUV (Centre hospitales universitäre vaudois)
ZweiChirurgen with chapters in brand new textbook
Prof. Kirchhoff and PD Dr. Hoffmann were once again in demand as authors. In the current edition of the textbook «Robot-assisted hernia surgery», ZweiChirurgen have compiled all the facts about regeneration and the start of sports after hernia surgery in one chapter. The book, which was compiled with several co-authors from all over the world, has just been published by Springer Verlag.
June 2024
Two surgeons to host the world’s largest hernia congress in 2028
Two surgeons have successfully bid to host the annual congress of the European Hernia Society (EHS) in Basel in 2028. At this year’s EHS Congress in Prague, the committee decided in favor of Basel. This will be the first time that the EHS Congress has ever been held in Switzerland and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2028. This great success was only possible thanks to ZweiChirurgen’s many years of experience in organizing congresses (Swiss Hernia Days), but also thanks to the strong support of the canton and city of Basel, the “Switzerland Convention Bureau”, Basel Tourism and the SGC and SAHC professional associations.
May 2024
Two surgeons at the annual congress of the European Hernia Society (EHS)
Prof. Dr. Philipp Kirchhoff was a speaker and expert at a symposium on the occasion of the EHS Congress in Prague. Around 1500 participants from all over the world came to the Czech capital to discuss the current state of hernia surgery.
ZweiChirurgen on SCS
At this year’s congress of the Swiss College of Surgeons (SCS) in Davos, Dr. med Debora Nowakowski was an expert at the hernia workshop together with other colleagues from Swiss hospitals. Practical aspects of hernia surgery were discussed intensively with the young surgeons in attendance.
April 2024
ZweiChirurgen host OP Workshop
Once again, ZweiChirurgen hosted a surgical workshop. Surgeons from Winterthur and Muri were guests to receive further training in the field of hernia surgery. This time the focus was on the different techniques in the surgical treatment of rectus diastasis and mesh fixation options.
ZweiChirurgen were once again involved as instructors and speakers at the renowned 41st Davoscourse
350 young surgeons from more than 20 countries received further training in many areas of surgery with practical exercises on plastic models. PD Dr. Hoffmann was active in the «Hernia Module» and trained the next generation of surgeons in hernia surgery.