My Professional Way: Microvascular Surgery since 1974

In 1972, I visited the famous plastic surgery course at Canniesburn Hospital, Glasgow, where I met Bob Acland, senior registrar at that time. He had begun experimenting with microvascular surgery and developing micro instruments.

This work stimulated me to start on my own at the Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität Munich. From this beginning, we did our first free groin flap in March, 1975. We had to wait until September, 1975 for the first amputated stump with amputate to start replantation work. Because we had the first replantation center in Germany (the second in Europe), we could perform a great number of replantations (over 100 in the first 4 months).

Being involved in the foundation of the International Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery in 1978 in San Francisco, microsurgery became the main subject in my continuing medical life. Worldwide, I ran courses and meetings and received invitations as visiting professor, etc. So I can say, “Looking in the microscope, I saw the world.” Being secretary, treasurer, and president of the ISRM gave me an international reputation. This was highlighted at the 10th meeting of this society in 1991 in Munich, where all the pioneers of microsurgry attended. This was the last occasion of such a gathering.