Conrad Ramstedt
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Conrad Ramstedt (1 February 1867, Hamersleben, Saxony-Anhalt
– 7 February 1963, Münster
) was a German
surgeon remembered for describing Ramstedt's operation
.
in Magdeburg
before studying medicine at Heidelberg
, Berlin
and finally Halle
from where he qualified in 1894. He became assistant in the University Surgical Clinic in Halle under Fritz Gustav von Bramann from 1895 to 1901. In 1901 he joined the German Army
as a medical officer in the Westphalian Cuirassiers
, serving until 1909. On his discharge from the Army, he became chief surgeon to the RafaelKlinik in Münster, a position he held until 1947. During World War I
he served as Oberstabsarzt (Major) in the German Army. In 1911 he performed the first Ramstedt operation, and published six papers on the subject between 1912 and 1934. In 1957 he received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He continued operating until the age of 80 when he was stopped by failing eyesight; he died at the age of 96 in Münster.
was first fully described by Harald Hirschsprung
in 1888. Initially surgeons were reluctant to advise surgical intervention in these cases, even though mortality from the condition was high, as the mortality rate from surgery was also very high. Pyloric dilatation and pyloroplasty were tried with little success. Some surgeons found better results with gastroenterostomy
to bypass the obstructed pylorus. On 23 August 1911 Ramstedt operated on the first case of pyloric stenosis he had seen. He had decided to perform a pyloroplasty, which involved incising the pyloric muscle longitudinally and then closing the defect by suturing the muscle back together transversely. He performed the longitudinal incision, relieving the obstruction, but found that the sutures tore out through the muscle when he attempted to close the incision. He elected to cover the defect with an omental patch, realising that it was not necessary to suture the pyloric muscle. This procedure, incising the pyloric muscle while leaving the mucosa intact and leaving the muscle to heal, was the first pyloromyotomy to be performed and became known as Ramstedt's operation. Ramstedt performed a second pyloromyotomy in 1912, and did not use an omental patch on the second occasion. Both children recovered well, and Ramstedt reported the new procedure in September 1912.
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
– 7 February 1963, Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
surgeon remembered for describing Ramstedt's operation
Pyloromyotomy
Pyloromyotomy is a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the longitudinal and circular muscles of the pylorus. It is used to treat hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. It is also known as Ramstedt's Operation, after Conrad Ramstedt who first performed the procedure in 1911....
.
Biography
Conrad Ramstedt was born in 1867 in Hamersleben, the son of physician Constantin Ramstedt. He was educated at the gymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
before studying medicine at Heidelberg
Heidelberg University Faculty of Medicine
The Faculty of Medicine is one of twelve faculties at the University of Heidelberg. It was one of the four original faculties of the university in 1386...
, Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
and finally Halle
University of Halle-Wittenberg
The Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg , also referred to as MLU, is a public, research-oriented university in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg within Saxony-Anhalt, Germany...
from where he qualified in 1894. He became assistant in the University Surgical Clinic in Halle under Fritz Gustav von Bramann from 1895 to 1901. In 1901 he joined the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
as a medical officer in the Westphalian Cuirassiers
4th (Westphalian) Cuirassiers "von Driesen"
The 4th Cuirassiers “von Driesen” were a heavy cavalry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army. The regiment was formed in 1717. The regiment fought in the Silesian Wars, the War of the Sixth Coalition, the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War and World War I. The regiment was disbanded in...
, serving until 1909. On his discharge from the Army, he became chief surgeon to the RafaelKlinik in Münster, a position he held until 1947. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he served as Oberstabsarzt (Major) in the German Army. In 1911 he performed the first Ramstedt operation, and published six papers on the subject between 1912 and 1934. In 1957 he received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. He continued operating until the age of 80 when he was stopped by failing eyesight; he died at the age of 96 in Münster.
Ramstedt's operation
Infantile hypertrophic pyloris stenosisPyloric stenosis
Pyloric stenosis is a condition that causes severe vomiting in the first few months of life. There is narrowing of the opening from the stomach to the intestines, due to enlargement of the muscle surrounding this opening , which spasms when the stomach empties...
was first fully described by Harald Hirschsprung
Harald Hirschsprung
Harald Hirschsprung was a Danish physician who first described Hirschsprung's disease in 1886.-Life and medical career:Harald Hirschsprung was a native of Copenhagen....
in 1888. Initially surgeons were reluctant to advise surgical intervention in these cases, even though mortality from the condition was high, as the mortality rate from surgery was also very high. Pyloric dilatation and pyloroplasty were tried with little success. Some surgeons found better results with gastroenterostomy
Gastroenterostomy
A gastroenterostomy is the surgical creation of a connection between the stomach and the jejunum. The operation can sometimes be performed at the same time as a partial gastrectomy...
to bypass the obstructed pylorus. On 23 August 1911 Ramstedt operated on the first case of pyloric stenosis he had seen. He had decided to perform a pyloroplasty, which involved incising the pyloric muscle longitudinally and then closing the defect by suturing the muscle back together transversely. He performed the longitudinal incision, relieving the obstruction, but found that the sutures tore out through the muscle when he attempted to close the incision. He elected to cover the defect with an omental patch, realising that it was not necessary to suture the pyloric muscle. This procedure, incising the pyloric muscle while leaving the mucosa intact and leaving the muscle to heal, was the first pyloromyotomy to be performed and became known as Ramstedt's operation. Ramstedt performed a second pyloromyotomy in 1912, and did not use an omental patch on the second occasion. Both children recovered well, and Ramstedt reported the new procedure in September 1912.