We are the combination of four hospitals: the General Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, the Women’s Hospital and the Traumatology, Rehabilitation and Burns Hospital. We are part of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus: a world-leading health park where healthcare plays a crucial role.
Patients are the centre and the core of our system. We are professionals committed to quality care and our organizational structure breaks down the traditional boundaries between departments and professional groups, with an exclusive model of knowledge areas.
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The commitment of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital to innovation allows us to be at the forefront of medicine, providing first class care adapted to the changing needs of each patient.
Colposcopy allows an in-depth examination of the uterus, or cervix, for early identification of possible lesions that could be precursors to cancer or cancerous lesions. This is done using a special microscope called a colposcope, which is used to find out the cause of an abnormal cytology.
During the exploration, gynaecologists study the cervix and decide whether a biopsy should be taken and from what area. They can also remove certain tissues, if necessary. For the biopsy, a small sample is taken and sent to the laboratory to examine the cells. From this examination, the doctors can diagnose and decide on treatment, if necessary.
This technique is used for early detection of lesions that could trigger cancer of the cervix and also to take samples to diagnose and even remove tissues.
This exploration also lets us diagnose other sexually transmitted infections in addition to HPV.
To perform the test, the patient should be placed on the gynaecological stretcher with legs in stirrups.
The doctor then inserts a device inside the vagina, the speculum, which separates the walls, and then brings the colposcope, which lets them see the area to be examined. If they detect anomalous areas during examination, they can decide whether to take a biopsy of the tissue that must be analysed later with a microscope in the laboratory.
Anomalies detected in a cervical biopsy are called cervical intraepithelial neoplasms (CIN) and are classified as:
Possible discomfort while taking the sample and, sometimes, light bleeding that can last up to 3 or 4 days.
In addition to the subspecialties that are traditionally related to the field, the Gynaecology Department at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital has for several years now also incorporated gynaecological endoscopic surgery: laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. These account for almost 50% of the scheduled operations performed by the Department and most of them are carried out as outpatients, in the day hospital.
This unit carries out diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of benign gynaecological pathologies that require surgical treatment using laparoscopic treatment.
The Major Outpatient Surgery Unit is located on the 3rd floor of the Women’s Hospital, next to the three operating theatres where the Endoscopy Unit and Post-Surgical Resuscitation Division carry out most of their operations.
The Gynaecological Oncology and Lower Genital Tract Pathology Unit is a part of the Gynaecology Department. It treats all genital cancer diseases in the Hospital's catchment area, as well as more complex cases with requirements that exceed the capacity of other health centres in Catalonia.
Our mission is to provide effective, efficient and quality healthcare in the treatment of diseases. Our guiding principle is comprehensive care, where treatment, teaching and research combine to offer the public the highest quality competitive service.
Cancer is a group of diseases in which cells grow uncontrollably, invade nearby tissues, and may spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). Its behavior and treatment depend on the type of cancer and where it originates.
Cancer is a complex disease that varies depending on the type of cancer, location, tumours, malignancy, causes and approaches.
Symptoms of cancer can be varied and very much depend on the type of tumour. However, many cancers may give warning signs such as:
39,900 cases were diagnosed in Catalonia in 2015, excluding skin cancer or melanoma. This breaks down as affecting 23,600 men and 13,300 women. The incidence rate is 345 cases for every 100,000 men and 217 for every 100,000 women.In men, the most common cancer is prostate cancer, followed by colorectal and lung cancer. In women, the most common cancers are breast, colorectal and lung cancer. The mortality rate for cancer is around 109 cases for every 100,000 men and 55 for every 100,000 women.
Different tests are used to detect cancer, such as:
Imaging tests can also be requested such as:
Finally, tissue analyses are requested:
Cancer is treated using a multidisciplinary approach and different medical specialisations are combined to treat it appropriately. This treatment follows a protocol: surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. There are also specific therapies for some tumours such as hormone therapy, targeted therapies or immunotherapy.
A series of factors influence and have an impact on cancer:
There are also screening programmes for some kinds of cancer.
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