Ambroise Paré: His Contribution to the Future Advancement of Neurosurgery and the Hardships of His Times Affecting His Life and Brilliant Career.

Ambroise Paré was celebrated surgeon of the 16th century whose practical accomplishments, books, and ideas transformed surgery and was a precursor for the later development of neurosurgery. He developed many surgical innovations related to wound management, arterial ligation for the prevention of hemorrhage during limb amputations, and the treatment of war-related head and spine injuries. He maintained that a surgeon should operate gently to reduce pain and improve outcome, and he dedicated his career to the wounded, sick, and poor. He also served 4 consecutive French monarchs-Henri II and his 3 sons François II, Charles IX, and Henri III. As a Huguenot (a Reformed Protestant) by faith, he lived in an environment dominated by Catholicism. Hence, his practice and life were sometimes hindered by political circumstances and religious prejudice. In this historical vignette, we will discuss the professional accomplishments of Ambroise Paré that influenced the future development of neurosurgery, including his descriptions of phantom-limb pain and peripheral nerve injury, his innovations in neurotraumatology, and the saws he invented for use in skull surgery. We will also highlight Paré's broad neurosurgical contributions to the field. Finally, we will discuss his personal life during the difficult and dangerous political circumstances of 16th century France.

Supplementing the neurosurgical virtuoso: evolution of automation from mythology to operating room adjunct.

A central concept of scientific advancement in the medical and surgical fields is the incorporation of successful emerging ideas and technologies throughout the scope of human endeavors. The field of automation and robotics is a pivotal representation of this concept. Arising in the mythology of Homer, the concept of automation and robotics grew exponentially over the millennia to provide the substrate for a paradigm shift in the current and future practice of neurosurgery. We trace the growth of this field from the seminal concepts of Homer and Aristotle to early incorporation into neurosurgical practice. Resulting changes provide drastic and welcome advances in areas of visualization, haptics, acoustics, dexterity, tremor reduction, motion scaling, and surgical precision.

[First medical museum of Russia (150-anniversary of the Surgical museum of the Imperial Medical-Surgery Academy)].

The opening in 1863 of the Surgical museum of the Imperial Medical-Surgical Academy was the sign of a new age in the development of medical science. It became the first medical museum in our country. It was the period when similar museums appeared in Europe and America. Thus all over the world were formed the first museums that amassed their collections, the later basis of modem medical museums.

Jan Mikulicz-Radecki (1850-1905): a fundamental contributor to world surgery; surgeon of the head, neck, and esophagus.

We present some of many valuable and unique achievements of Jan Mikulicz-Radecki with special regard to his contribution to laryngology. He constructed esophagogastroscope, and was one of the first to perform endoscopy of esophagus and ventricle. He published several papers describing new approaches to maxillary sinus through inferior meatus, surgical management of tonsillar cancer via lateral pharyngotomy, correction of post-traumatic nasal deformations, and the use of iodophorm in healing wounds. Among Mikulicz's many celebrated scientific achievements, the most important remains the development of asepsis and creation of a surgical school, which was a modernized continuation of Langenbeck-Billroth achievements.

What is surgery?

Progress in surgical science has been characterized by a continuous cycle of innovation from bedside to bench to bedside. Beginning 30,000 years ago with the first bone needles to surgical lasers and robotics of today, each quantum leap has resulted from the convergence of technical advances and creative surgeons, but always defined by an attitude of care toward the sick. One of the most innovative pediatric surgeons, Dr. Mark Ravitch, elucidated some simple yet profound principles in the precise answer to the question "What is Surgery?" This section outlines some simple concepts summarized as "Ravitch's Rules," which provide a useful framework for clarity in understanding the past and illuminating the road ahead. Surgeons must be thoughtful in how they define themselves and their craft, ignoring technological advances at their own peril.

W. James Gardner: pioneer neurosurgeon and inventor.

W. James Gardner, a skillful neurosurgeon and inventor, is best remembered for his cervical tongs and hydrodynamic theory of syringomyelia. A pioneer of modern neurosurgery, Gardner trained under Charles Frazier in Philadelphia, and in 1929 he moved to Ohio where he became chief of neurosurgery at the Cleveland Clinic, a position he was to hold for the next 33 years. A large surgical practice made it imperative for Gardner to develop surgical methods that were quick, effective, and advantageous for patient and surgeon. He was an early proponent of the sitting position for patients undergoing cranial surgery, which led to the development of a neurosurgical chair with a head fixation device. To reduce the risks of hypotension and air embolism when the patient is in the sitting position, Gardner invented the clinical G suit. He was the first to advocate and use induced arterial hypotension for intracranial surgery and the first neurosurgeon in the US to publish his experiences performing lumbar discography. He converted an operating table so that he could induce hypothermia during aneurysm surgery and then applied pneumatic cuffs to occlude the major arterial supply to the brain. His pioneering work has been documented in many other areas such as hemifacial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia, for which he performed the first vascular decompression, in cervical sympathectomy for treatment of various ailments, and in the use of intrathecally delivered steroid drugs for sciatica. During his career, he authored 256 publications and one book on the dysraphic states. Many of his contributions to the discipline of neurosurgery are now taken for granted.

The genesis of neurosurgery and the evolution of the neurosurgical operative environment: part I-prehistory to 2003.

Despite its singular importance, little attention has been given to the neurosurgical operative environment in the scientific and medical literature. This article focuses attention on the development of neurosurgery and the parallel emergence of its operative setting. The operative environment has, to a large extent, defined the "state of the art and science" of neurosurgery, which is now undergoing rapid reinvention. During the course of its initial invention, major milestones in the development of neurosurgery have included the definition of anatomy, consolidation of a scientific basis, and incorporation of the practicalities of anesthesia and antisepsis and later operative technical adjuvants for further refinement of action and minimalism. The progress, previously long and laborious in emergence, is currently undergoing rapid evolution. Throughout its evolution, the discipline has assimilated the most effective tools of modernity into the operative environment, leading eventually to the entity known as the operating room. In the decades leading to the present, progressive minimalization of manipulation and the emergence of more refined operative definition with increasing precision are evident, with concurrent miniaturization of attendant computerized support systems, sensors, robotic interfaces, and imaging devices. These developments over time have led to the invention of neurosurgery and the establishment of the current state-of-the-art neurosurgical operating room as we understand it, and indeed, to a broader definition of the entity itself. To remain current, each neurosurgeon should periodically reconsider his or her personal operative environment and its functional design with reference to modernity of practice as currently defined.

Surgical robotics: the early chronicles: a personal historical perspective.

The use of robotics has been emerging for approximately 75 years, but only during the past 5 years has the potential of robotics been recognized by the surgical community as a whole. This personal perspective chronicles the development of robotics for the general surgical community, the role of the military medical research effort, and many of the major programs that contributed to the current success of robotics.

Is it time for brushless scrubbing with an alcohol-based agent?

The practice of surgical scrubbing in perioperative settings is changing rapidly. This article presents information about eliminating the traditional scrub brush technique and using an alcohol formulation for surgical hand scrubs. Also covered are antimicrobial agents, relevant US Food and Drug Administration classifications, skin and fingernail care, and implementation of changes. The article challenges surgical team members to evaluate a new and different approach to surgical hand scrubbing.