Uniting and supporting

Vascular medicine is an interdisciplinary field – now more so than ever before. PD Dr. Dominic Mühlberger, newly elected President of the German Society of Phlebology and Lymphology (DGPL), is a great advocate of this way of thinking. As a vascular surgeon and department head at Marien-Hospital in Herne, he can use his clinical practice in the association’s work.

life: Which priorities do you have in your new post?

Dr. Mühlberger: Supporting new talent is important to me, and making phlebology and lymphology attractive to young physicians. I would like to continue the amalgamation process of phlebologists with lymphologists and intensify our interaction. And finally, I’d like to show on an international stage that Germany has a very strong community that does great work.

How does the cooperation within the DGPL work?

Dr. Mühlberger: We’re a very young team, especially on the executive board and the scientific advisory board, with many colleagues working in lymphology. That’s great. These synergies now have to develop by setting up working groups. After all, everyone is interested in one thing: working in phlebology and lymphology. Our association has also gained many committed lymphology and physical therapists. This exchange is great for us as physicians, but patients benefit the most.

What else can patients expect from the work the DGPL is carrying out?

Dr. Mühlberger: Our main objective is to create alertness. I mean being more alert to and aware of conditions that are common in the population and can cause a lot of deaths, such as thromboembolic events, or that lead to increased costs for the healthcare system when treatment isn’t started early enough like in cases of venous leg ulcers. That’s why I’m hoping we can get more family physicians to join our work. They’re an important pillar in the medical sector and the first port of call for patients.

Which major topics are most relevant for current clinical practice?

Dr. Mühlberger: Our field is innovative and a lot is happening. I’m thinking of interventional therapy in cases of deep vein thrombosis or the new endoluminal procedures in varicose vein surgery. There is a lot going on in lymph surgery, with new possibilities using a surgical microscope for lymphovenous anastomoses or lymph node transplants. We now know more about pelvic congestion syndrome, a condition that used to be widely unexplored and under-diagnosed, which can be effectively treated using a phlebological approach.

Is there any news from the area of compression therapy?

Dr. Mühlberger: A lot has happened in this area in the last few years. We have learned, for example, that rigid allocation of compression classes to indications doesn’t make sense. We’re now using the compression class that seems most effective. That can even be class 1.

And which major topics are being researched?

Dr. Mühlberger: We need research relating to lipedema and pelvic congestion syndrome and – I’m hoping to see much more basic research of chronic venous disorders. We have expanded our range with lymphology and physical therapists. These professions are becoming more academic, so more will be going on in that area. This is where we can start to integrate lymph therapy into the scientific community.



On January 1, 2023, the German Society of Phlebology and Lymphology (DGPL) was established by amalgamating previously independent specialist associations. This year’s annual meeting will take place from October 2 to 5 in Freiburg’s Concert Hall with the motto “Science meets practice.” For more information, please visit: www.phlebology.de

Images: St. Elisabeth Gruppe – Katholische Kliniken Rhein-Ruhr