An Open and Shut Case

Keyhole surgery has been made possible through the rapid development of various medical technologies, first pioneered in the 1970s. Revolutionary in the way it reduced the risk, surgical complications, healing time and scarring compared to open surgery, keyhole surgery soon became the preferred method throughout many surgical specialities.

Here, John Wickham, the 'godfather' of robotic surgery, reflects on a life spent in research, discovery and struggle for innovation in order to make keyhole surgery widespread, accessible and available to patients. An Open and Shut Case tracks the evolution of surgery in the later parts of the 20th century, from initial surgical training in the 1960s to the rapid growth in the field of minimally invasive techniques throughout the 1970s and 80s in many specialities, precursors to the techniques used today. It concludes with a look at the effect of the National Health Service on the practice of medicine and nursing in the UK throughout this time.

Perfect for surgeons and those interested in the history of surgery and surgical techniques, it also focusses on lessons learnt, both good and bad, when dealing with the management of public health.
Contents:How, Why, What?:School and WarNational Service in the Royal Air ForceUndergraduate TrainingHouse Appointment at Hill End Hospital, St Albans HertsThe Anatomy DemonstratorJunior Surgical RegistrarMiddle Grade Surgical RegistrarSenior Surgical RegistrarFulbright Scholar USAResident Surgical Officer St Paul's HospitalThe Adventures of the Fully Trained Surgeon!:Consultant Urologist, St Bartholomew's Hospital and St Paul's Hospital, LondonSynopsis of the Various Phases of the Development of My Surgical CompetenceThe Building of the Department of Urology, St Bartholomew's Hospital and Start of Private PracticeAncillary Events: Regional Renal Hypothermia and the Intrarenal SocietyConsultant Urologist, King Edward VII Hospital and the London Clinic, Civilian Consultant to the Royal Air ForceDialysis and Renal TransplantationDisaster: Acute PancreatitisPersonal Life in the 1980s and Stowe Maries, Westcott, SurreyThe Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy and the Endourology Society and Courses at the Institute of UrologyA Slight Deviation — Gall StonesThe Dornier Extracorporeal Lithotripter, The Academic Unit, University of London and Retirement from BartsInstalment of the Dornier Lithotripter at Welbeck Street, London and the Stone CentreMinimally Invasive Surgery and the Organisation of the Academic UnitThe Concept of Minimally Invasive SurgeryThe Society of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Then Therapy! SMITClosure of the Stone Centre and the Move to Devonshire Place and the London ClinicClosure of St Peter's Hospital and the Institute of Urology and Transfer of the Rump to the Middlesex HospitalGuy's Hospital: A New Lease of LifeThe ProbotPostretirement from the NHS and Spreading the Word on Minimally Invasive SurgerySyclix — Now What Was I to do With My Time?The Answers to the Initial Three QuestionsThe National Health Service and Its Impact on Medical EthicsThe Final Words
Readership: Perfect for surgeons and those interested in the history of surgery and surgical techniques, as well as health service policy makers and managers.
Keyhole Surgery;Robotic Surgery;National Health Service;John Wickham;St Bartholomew's Hospital;St Paul's Hospital;Surgeon;Surgical Education0