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Statements of admission Statement of admission for a hospitalization Explanations regarding the statement of admission for a hospitalization Statement of admission for outpatient care Explanations regarding the statement of admission for outpatient care We suggest you to pack certain items: Pyjamas and nightshirtsDressing gownComfortable, non-slip shoes (slippers)UnderwearNecessary toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, soap, comb, hair brush, towel, face flannel) Any medicine you take regularly, in original packaging (or at least the list). We ask you to make a list of all the medicine you take, with or without prescription, whether daily or occasionally. Also make a list of medicines to which you are allergic or that disagree with you. You can give these lists to the nurses at the time of being admitted to the unit.A thermometer issued at the time of a previous hospitalisation. If you don't have one, you will be issued with one – which you can take with you when you leave – and for which you will be invoiced.  Your support stockings or body band if requested by the doctor.Also remember to pack some books, newspapers, laptop, PC, charger, etc.If you wear glasses or contact lenses, dentures or a hearing aid, please deposit them in the case or other container provided.  The day before your surgery, please remember to: Take an antiseptic shower / shampooing (if recommended)Remove any nail varnish and false nails, in gel or resin, from your hands and feetCut and file your nailsRemove any make-up, false eyelashes, jewellery, piercingDo not eat, drink or smoke after midnight!! Please follow strictly the instructions of your anaesthetist regarding any medicines that you should or should not take on the day itself or the previous day.  Preparing your belongings before hospitalisation to make your stay as comfortable as possible

Admissions Please go to the admissions desk on arrival. You find this in the main hall.  Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 7 am to 5.30 pm Saturday from 11 am to 7.30 pm Sunday from 9 am to 7.30 pm You can contact them by email at admission [dot] erasme [at] hubruxelles [dot] be (admission[dot]erasme[at]hubruxelles[dot]be) or by telephone on + 32 2 555 39 30 Registration You must present these documents when registering: Your identity card or passport Documents relating to any hospitalisation insurance and your insurance card  Your GP's contact details Insurance cover certificate, duly completed Telephone and television All beds have a television and telephone on which you can take incoming calls free of charge. Access to TV channels and making outgoing calls are optional services for which there is a charge. You can choose whether or not to benefit from them at the time of admission by completing the relevant form. If you do not want to use the television you must inform Admissions. If not, you will be invoiced automatically Meals Meals are served at the following times: Breakfast: At around 9am. It can be taken in the cafeteria on floor -1 from 7.15 am during the week and from 8 am at weekends.  Lunch: At around 12.30 pm Supper: At around 6 pm You will be advised by a dietician if your health requires it.  Post You can receive post at the hospital.To ensure you receive it, please ask your correspondents to write clearly on the envelope: Your first name + Your last name Name of department and room number Erasmus Hospital 808 Route de Lennik - 1070 Bruxelles   If you want to send mail, a postbox is available in the main hall. You can also give your stamped and addressed letters to the care unit nurse or secretary.   Admissions, registration, telephone, television, meals and mail

Your doctor will inform you of your probable discharge date as soon as possible. We ask you to vacate your room as early as possible before 11 am. You will be informed as soon as possible if additional examinations are going to delay the date or time of discharge. If you foresee any possible difficulties, please discuss them with your doctor or care team immediately on admission.  If you have transport problems, the hospital secretary will help you find a solution   (ambulance or taxi). Please do not leave behind any personal belongings. If you have to return for consultations, the hospital secretary will arrange your appointments. On the day of discharge you will receive a provisional hospitalisation report to be passed on to your GP. This contains all medical prescriptions and information needed for your continued treatment. If necessary, you will also receive a liaison file containing pertinent information for the various carers (physiotherapist, nurses, etc.). If you have complementary health insurance some insurers pay a daily allowance in case of hospitalisation on submission of a certificate of hospitalisation. To obtain this document, contact the hospital secretary before your departure or submit a request in writing to Admissions and they will send you a copy. This certificate can also serve for hospitalisation insurance. If you leave the hospital without the doctor's agreement you must first complete and sign the "requested discharge" document with which you will be provided.  To continuously improve our services you can answer our satisfaction questionnaire or send us an email to: Contact [dot] erasme [at] hubruxelles [dot] be. Image Everything you need to know before leaving hospital

Your loved ones can visit you between 3 pm and 7.30 pm. In single rooms they can visit between 1.30 pm and 7.30 pm. For the comfort of yourself and others, please ask your visitors to: • Leave the room when you receive care and doctors are present • Avoid staying too long or being present in large numbers• Strictly respect visiting hours Please note: Visiting hours in patient rooms may be adjusted based on the nature of the care, the patient's condition, and its severity to ensure optimal care conditions. Visiting hospitalised friends and relatives

Image Local anaesthesia/pain management Image General anaesthesia Day hospital If you arrive by way of the general hospital entrance, please follow route 901 to the Surgical Day Hospital reception.  Phone +32 2 555 84 11 Address Day hospital Route de Lennik 808 1070 Brussels Belgium It provides quality care in a single day with maximum safety. It is essential to arrange for somebody to pick you up at the hospital when you leave and for somebody to be with you during the night following the operation.  The Day Hospital is open from 7 am to 8 pm and operates by appointment only.  The Day Hospital welcomes patients for surgery and provides treatment for pain relief.

Image Be well prepared for the surgery or treatment Image The day before the surgery/treatment Image The day of the surgery/treatment

Image Be well prepared for the surgery Image The day before surgery Image The day of the surgery

The Newsweek ranking of the best specialist hospitals has placed the Gastroenterology department at Erasme Hospital (H.U.B) first nationally. Renewed recognition The Newsweek ranking of the best specialized hospitals has placed the Gastroenterology department of Erasme Hospital (H.U.B) at the top nationally. Behind this distinction, which has been renewed for several years, are first and foremost women and men: doctors, nurses, researchers and other healthcare staff who bring the department to life day after day. Congratulations to everyone. We would also like to thank our patients and their loved ones for their trust. Discover the Gastroenterology Department Image

As part of Migraine Awareness Week, let us take a closer look at this common neurological condition, which can sometimes be highly disabling, but for which treatment options have evolved considerably in recent years. What is a migraine?A migraine is not simply a “bad headache”. It is a neurological disease characterised by attacks that can last from a few hours to several days. The pain is often pulsating, sometimes located on one side of the head, and may be aggravated by physical activity. It is frequently accompanied by nausea and increased sensitivity to light, noise or smells. In some people, the attack is preceded or accompanied by an aura: visual disturbances, tingling, difficulty finding words or other transient neurological symptoms. When headaches become very frequent, with at least 15 days of cephalalgia per month, including at least 8 with migraine characteristics, this is referred to as chronic migraine.Treatments tailored to each patientManagement of migraine involves two main aspects. Acute treatment aims to stop or reduce an attack when it occurs. Depending on the patient, this may include paracetamol, anti-inflammatory drugs or triptans. When attacks are frequent or particularly disabling, preventive treatment, also known as prophylactic treatment, may be offered. Taken regularly, its aim is to reduce the frequency and intensity of attacks. Several medicines traditionally used in Belgium can fulfil this role, including certain beta-blockers, topiramate, amitriptyline and candesartan.What if the usual treatments are not enough?In some patients, several appropriately administered treatments unfortunately do not provide sufficient control of the disease. Depending on specific criteria, this may be referred to as resistant or refractory migraine. In recent years, the therapeutic options available to these patients have changed significantly.Treatments targeting CGRP, a molecule that plays an important role in the mechanisms of migraine, represent one of the major advances. There are now antibodies directed against CGRP or its receptor, administered by injection, as well as oral treatments called gepants. For some patients with chronic migraine, injections of botulinum toxin (Botox®) administered according to a specific protocol into different muscles of the head and neck are also a preventive option.In Belgium, access to and reimbursement of these treatments are subject to specific criteria and are assessed by the neurologist according to each patient’s medical history.Aquipta®: now also for treating an attackAtogepant (Aquipta®) is an oral medicine that blocks the CGRP receptor. Until now, it was used as a preventive treatment for migraine. A new indication has broadened its use: Aquipta® can now also be used to treat an ongoing migraine attack in adults, with or without aura. This development is particularly relevant for some patients for whom the usual acute treatments, especially triptans, are not sufficiently effective, are poorly tolerated or cannot be used.What about tomorrow? A new avenue from interventional neuroradiologyResearch is also continuing for patients suffering from the most difficult-to-treat forms. One particularly innovative approach is currently being studied: middle meningeal artery embolisation. This artery supplies, among other structures, the meninges—the membranes surrounding the brain—which are richly innervated and contribute to the mechanisms underlying headaches. The procedure involves using a small catheter inserted into an artery to reach and then occlude certain branches of the middle meningeal artery.The first small studies conducted in patients with refractory chronic headaches have reported encouraging results, with some patients experiencing a substantial reduction in the number of headache days. However, these results must be interpreted with caution: this approach is still under evaluation, and its efficacy and safety now need to be confirmed in larger studies.At H.U.B, the collaboration between our team specialising in headaches and the team of interventional neuroradiologists (Dr Guenego, Dr Bonnet, Dr Boustia, Dr Docquier and Prof. Lubicz), will enable us to explore this new approach and assess, in an appropriate setting and in carefully selected patients, the role it could play in the management of refractory chronic headaches.A message to rememberMigraine is a neurological disease in its own right and can have a considerable impact on family, social and professional life. However, suffering from frequent migraines does not mean that no solution remains. From conventional treatments to CGRP-targeted therapies, including botulinum toxin and the new approaches currently being studied, therapeutic options are now more numerous than ever. The objective remains the same: to find, for each patient, the strategy that reduces the impact of migraine on their daily life as much as possible. Learn more about cephalalgia (headache)Download your headache diary (.pdf) Contact the Neurology Department Dr Louisien LEBRUN, Neurologist

As part of Heart Week, H.U.B focuses on women’s cardiac health care, the central theme of the new campaign by the Belgian Cardiological League. On the occasion of Heart Week 2026, dedicated to Women’s Heart by the Belgian Cardiological League, the H.U.B would like to highlight a reality that remains too little known: cardiovascular diseases do not always manifest in the same way in women and men. Their prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up must therefore take these differences into account.Cardiovascular health viewed from a female perspectiveCardiovascular risk factors are partly shared by women and men. However, in women, certain factors related to hormonal and reproductive health may also influence cardiovascular risk throughout life, including contraception, pregnancy, pregnancy complications, PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), perimenopause and menopause.Some cardiovascular events or conditions are also more common in women, such as spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), Takotsubo syndrome or certain forms of ischaemia without significant obstruction of the coronary arteries (INOCA/MINOCA). Symptoms may also be less typical and sometimes mistaken for severe fatigue, digestive problems or stress, which may contribute to delayed diagnosis or even an incorrect diagnosis. At the H.U.B, these specific features are among the factors taken into account when assessing a patient’s cardiovascular health.When a woman has risk factors, symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular disease or a diagnosed heart condition, her care may require the complementary expertise of several disciplines. Cardiologists, gynaecologists, endocrinologists and other specialists work together when the clinical situation requires it, in order to cross-reference information and tailor prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up to each patient.This approach notably makes it possible to consider heart health throughout the whole life course: understanding gynaecological and obstetric history, taking hormonal status into account, identifying certain specific risk factors and integrating the various stages of reproductive life and menopause into the cardiovascular assessment.Because personalised medicine must also be based on inclusive researchAdapting care also requires sufficiently representative scientific knowledge.Yet women remain under-represented in many cardiovascular clinical trials. A 2024 analysis of 740 cardiovascular trials conducted since 2010 estimated that women accounted for only 38% of participants. Furthermore, results are not systematically analysed separately by sex, which may limit our ability to identify potential differences in disease presentation or treatment response.For an academic hospital such as the H.U.B., this issue is essential. Truly personalised medicine can only be patient-oriented if the knowledge on which it is based takes the diversity of patients into account.This means continuing to develop research that includes women, analyses data by sex where relevant and explores, among other aspects, the specific features of women’s cardiovascular health. The aim is not to create two separate forms of medicine, but to gain a better understanding of what may differ in order to provide each person with care based on the best available knowledge.Better knowledge for better prevention and better careHeart Week is also an opportunity to remind us that cardiovascular health concerns women at every stage of life. In Belgium, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death among women, yet this risk is still largely underestimated.As a long-standing partner of the Belgian Cardiological League, the H.U.B is supporting the “Women’s Heart” campaign to help raise awareness of these issues.Because taking women’s specific characteristics into account is not medicine apart: it is essential to building medicine that is fairer, more precise and truly personalised. Learn more (in French)

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital (HUDERF), Professor Pierre SMEESTERS, looks back at four decades of medical developments in paediatrics. Rather than presenting a chronology, however, he addresses an essential question: what have these advances really changed in the lives of children and their families? 40 years of paediatric innovations: when medicine changes children’s destinies Forty years ago, some diseases that can now be treated were still synonymous with severe disabilities, particularly difficult treatments or, in some cases, a very limited life expectancy.Since 1986, paediatric medicine has changed profoundly. New diagnostic tools, advances in surgery, neonatal resuscitation and care, treatments for cancer and rare diseases, genetic medicine… Over the years, innovations have gradually transformed the way children are treated and, above all, what they can hope for after their illness.To mark the 40th anniversary of the Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital (HUDERF), Professor Pierre SMEESTERS, a recognised expert in paediatrics and infectious diseases, head of the microbiology laboratory at the Plotkin Institute of Vaccinology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, professor of paediatrics and microbiology at ULB and Deputy Medical Director for the Family-Child sector at HUDERF, looks back at four decades of medical developments in paediatrics.Rather than presenting a chronology, however, he addresses an essential question: what have these advances really changed in the lives of children and their families?Behind every innovation are doctors, researchers, healthcare professionals, teams working together… and parents supporting their child through sometimes difficult times.And what about tomorrow? The challenges facing paediatrics will be different again. Personalised medicine, innovative therapies, artificial intelligence, new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches: research continues to open up new possibilities.🎧 Listen to the first part of this episode dedicated to 40 years of paediatric innovation. Listen to the episode (part 1) Image

For the first time, a large-scale international prospective study published in the Journal of Hepatology directly compares the outcomes of patients with severe liver failure (Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure – ACLF) according to whether or not they underwent liver transplantation. A major difference in survival after transplantationThe CHANCE cohort includes more than 1,000 patients treated at 63 centres across Europe, North America, South America and Asia. The study results show a striking difference between patients who underwent transplantation and those who were unable to benefit from it. Among patients deemed unsuitable for transplantation, one-year mortality reached 73% in cases of ACLF-2 and 88% in cases of ACLF-3 (severe stage).Among patients with comparable disease severity who underwent liver transplantation, mortality was 10.5% and 20.7%, respectively. These results show that, even in patients with very advanced cirrhosis, multiple organ failures and a potential need for organ-support therapies or life support, transplantation can offer a genuine prospect of long-term survival.“ The CHANCE data show that the severity of ACLF should not, on its own, lead to transplantation being considered futile. For the vast majority of these patients, when transplantation can be performed under appropriate conditions and at the right time, it can transform an extremely poor prognosis into a genuine chance of survival,” explains Professor Thierry Gustot, Director of the H.U.B Transplantation Department and principal investigator of the CHANCE study.Rethinking transplantation in severe ACLFUntil now, knowledge about transplantation in patients with severe ACLF has been based mainly on studies analysing data collected at a limited number of centres, sometimes within a single hospital or region. These studies provided valuable information, but involved relatively small groups of patients selected in specific settings, which could limit the generalisability of their findings. The CHANCE study offers a new perspective thanks to its prospective, international and multicentre design.However, the study identifies one important limitation: in patients with five or six organ failures, outcomes after transplantation remain considerably less favourable. These data therefore call for particularly rigorous patient selection in this extreme situation. The challenge is to better identify, among the most severely affected patients, those who may still derive substantial benefit from transplantation and those for whom the risk of failure remains too high.An international infrastructure to advance researchThe ambition of the CHANCE study extends beyond the results of this first publication. The study is based both on detailed follow-up of patients’ progress and on a biobank containing samples collected during their care: blood, plasma, urine and DNA. This infrastructure, established at the 63 participating centres worldwide with the support of the European Foundation for Chronic Liver Failure (EF-Clif), constitutes a unique scientific resource for improving our understanding of the mechanisms of ACLF, identifying factors associated with response to transplantation and, ultimately, improving patient selection and care.“ CHANCE is not merely a clinical study. We have established an international cohort and biobank that will allow us to explore new questions in the years to come: why do some patients recover after transplantation while others deteriorate? Which markers could help us select candidates more effectively? And how can we intervene earlier? ,” emphasises Professor Gustot. Read the publication Prof. Thierry Gustot Director of the H.U.B Transplantation DepartmentPrincipal investigator of the CHANCE study. About the H.U.B Medical Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Clinic The Hepatology Clinic and the Liver Transplantation Medical Clinic provide care for all patients with acute or chronic, common or rare liver disease, screen for liver diseases and assess their severity, and care for patients who are candidates for liver transplantation, as well as patients undergoing post-liver transplantation follow-up.Brussels University Hospital is a referral centre for the management of liver diseases, with comprehensive expertise and diagnostic and therapeutic resources. It is one of the six liver transplantation centres in Belgium. Learn more