Johann Anton von Mikulicz-Radecki (1850-1905)--a pioneer of gastroscopy and modern surgery: his credit to urology.

The author presents the life and achievements of Johann von Mikulicz-Radecki and his contribution to European and world surgery. Mikulicz was born in Czernowitz, then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was educated in numerous Austrian schools and graduated at Vienna University in 1875. In 1880 he became surgeon and lecturer (Docent) in the famous Billroth's School of surgery in Vienna. His scientific and clinical activity as assistant in Vienna and full professor in Cracow, Koenigsberg and Breslau resulted in 232 publications. He described many at that time novel surgical methods. He constructed the esophagogastroscope, scoliometer, peritoneal clamp and many other surgical devices. He organized the first in the world aseptical operation theatre in Breslau. He adopted hand disinfection, cotton and rubber gloves, mask, cup and general and local anaesthesia. Besides his many contributions to general, gastrointestinal and thoracic surgery Mikulicz devoted himself also to urological surgery. He performed ureterointestinal anastomosis and the first ileocystoplasty on a patient suffering from extrophy of the bladder. He died prematurely at the age of 55 in Breslau.