CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AS A BASIS OF SURGICAL PRACTICE

Since John Hunter first applied the scientific approach to surgery in the late 18th century, it has been raised from the humble level of a h andicraft to a highly experimental science. Although surgical research is essential, the practice of surgery has always been much influenced by the basic sciences. The clinical significance of experimental data has often only been recognized years later: research to no pre-define d end is also of utmost importance. Today, in a time of cost explosion and over-abundance of information, cooperative and statistically well -planned studies are essential to optimize financial and physical reso urces. Fields of increasing interest such as gene technology, immunolo gy and preventive medicine will influence surgery in the near future. Minimal invasive and interventional techniques have already started to revolutionize surgical practice. So surgical research today combines traditional medicine and modem techniques to put into practice immedia tely. If surgeons consider their field to be a unity of ''craftsmanshi p, art and science'' [10] and at the same time adhere to the rules of ethics, they will comply with the principle of ''saluti et solatio aeg rorum''.