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RACS ASC 2024

The Legacy of Al-Zahrawi: Urological Innovations Unveiled

Poster

Poster

Disciplines

Surgical History

Presentation Description

Institution: John Hunter Hospital - New South Wales, Australia

INTRODUCTION: Al-Zahrawi, was a prominent physician and polymath of the Islamic Golden Age. He made significant contributions to various fields of medicine, one of which was urology. METHODS: To understand Al-Zahrawi’s contributions to urology, we conducted a comprehensive review of the current available literature that has detailed his works in ‘Kitab al Tasrif’. RESULTS: Abu Qasim Khalaf Ibn Abbas Al Zahrawi, also known as Albucasis, was born in 936 AD in Al-Zahra, near Cordoba, the capital of Muslim Spain. He served as the court physician to Caliph Al-Hakam-II during the "Golden Age" of Arab Spain. His medical treatise, "Kitab al-Tasrif," completed in 1000, covered various medical topics and emphasized a positive doctor-patient relationship. Al Zahrawi dedicated fourteen chapters to urology, introducing innovative surgical instruments and techniques. Notably, he advocated the use of smooth silver catheters with lubrication from oil for managing urinary retention. He pioneered lithotripsy and introduced forceps for stone fragmentation. Notably, he addressed stones in women, challenging the norms of his time. His contributions include procedures for congenital meatal stricture, circumcision, and treating fractures of the pubic arch. CONCLUSIONS: Al-Zahrawi's contributions to urology were remarkable and transformative. His pioneering work in surgical instruments and procedures, particularly in stone removal, set a strong foundation for the development of modern urology. His emphasis on meticulous documentation and detailed illustrations provided invaluable insights for future generations of physicians and surgeons.

Speakers