Prof. Dr. Heim Dominik

Prof.Dr. Heim Dominik
General surgeon and venous specialist at the Venenzentrum in Thun, Switzerland, and the president of the EVF in 2019–2020

Innovations in the treatment of varicose veins

Author: Dominik Heim

No fundamental innovations have emerged in the last few years (apart from HIFU, but to early to commercialise in a large scale), but modifications for the known treatments are reported. The followint items will de demonstrated and explained:
– tumescence through the vein wall (solutio catheter)
– better foam quality (varixio)
– diagnostic asessement of non-/ less visible varicose veins (thermography, near infrared (NIR)-Light)
– Increasing venous return in venous ulcers (Geko)
These modifications might make life easier for those dealing with varicose veins.

Skin transplants – easy made

Author: Dominik Heim

After excision of skin disorders (tumor, traumatic defect and other etiology) a skin-defect quite often remains. An option to cover those areas are local skin flaps or even vascularised musculo-cutaneous flaps.
Less invasive are free skin transplants in local anaesthesia: mesh-grafts, thiersch and full thickness transplants. Often these procedures can be done in local anaesthesia and in a out-patient setting. This is especially important for older, frail patients.
Full thickness : the advantage is less shrinking (e. g on the face), the donor site can be at the neck
Thiersch: suitable for larger defects, donor site thigh or lateral side of the shoulder.
Mesh graft: the advantge is its ability to cover large defect. By meshing the graft can be stretched. Donor site at the same localisation as the Thiersch.
The postoperative treatment is he same for all modalities: Compression, first change of dressing after 5-7 days, honey dressing for the donor site.

Scurt CV

Born in Zürich, Switzerland, 28th August 1949

Graduated at the University of Basel, Switzerland, June 1977

Postgraduate trainings at different institutions in Switzerland and England

Surgeon-in-chief at the Hospital of Frutigen, Switzerland, 1995-2014

Since 1st September 2014
– surgical consultant at the Venous Centre, clinic Hohmad, Thun, CH
– member of the Medical Insurance Competence-team at lexiatrik, Lucerne, CH
– GP at the Medical Center Arosa, CH

Scientific appointments: PD (Privatdozent)/ Lecturer at the University of Basel
Board member of
-Swiss society for phlebology, SGP
-European Venous Forum, EVF
-Swiss Society for Traumatology and Insurance Medicine, SGTV
-European Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery, ESTES
-société internationale de traumatologie du ski et médecine des sports d’hiver

Honorary member of:
– Swiss society for surgery, SGC
-Swiss society for general surgery and traumatology, SGACT
-European Society for trauma and emergency Surgery, ESTES

Actual committements: Annual phlebological workshops in Thun, Invited lecturer to phlebological and traumatological congresses, insurance medicine, GP

Married to Simone Heim-Lamezan. Four children: Corsin (34), Mevion (32), Vital (30) and Neira (25). Lives with his family in Frutigen, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland