100TH ANNIVERSARY OF KALK,HEINZ - THE BRE AKTHROUGH OF LAPAROSCOPY

The method of laparoscopy, mainly being introduced as a diagnostic too l, has developed into an important therapeutic procedure during the la st decade. This development is associated with the name of the German gastroenterologist Heinz Kalk. Born in Frankfurt/Main in 1895 he first published about laparoscopy in 1929 and also designed a new laparosco pe with a prograde optic. He realized the great value of laparoscopy i n the differential diagnosis of liver diseases. During the 40's Kalk i ntroduced laparoscopically guided liver biopsy and was involved to a g reat extent in research of hepatic diseases, especially Hepatitis epid emica. The work of Kalk was of decisive influence for the development of laparoscopy in Europe. In 1949 he became chief of the Department of Internal Medicine of Kassel's hospital >>Stadtkrankenhaus<<, making i t one of the most interesting places to be in for hepatologists and la paroscopically working internists. Heinz Kalk died in 1973.