Alexander von Winiwarter
Encyclopedia
Alexander von Winiwarter (April 22, 1848 - October 31, 1917) was an Austrian-Belgian surgeon
who was a native of Vienna
. He was the brother of physician Felix von Winiwarter
(1852-1931).
Alexander Winiwarter obtained his medical doctorate in 1870 at the University of Vienna
, and worked as a surgical assistant at the Vienna University Clinic under Theodor Billroth
, who was a pioneer in the field of modern surgical practices. Later he became head of the surgical department at the Kronprinz-Rudolf-Kinderspitals (Crown Prince Rudolf Children's Hospital), and in 1878 moved to Belgium, where he became a professor of surgery at the University of Liège
. Subsequently he acquired Belgian citizenship.
In the latter part of the 19th century, Winiwarter introduced specialized massage
and compression procedures to treat lymphedema
, a disease that causes swollen arms and legs due to fluid retention in the lymphatic system
. In 1932, Danish physiotherapist Emil Vodder
refined and improved Winiwarter's technique to treat lymphedema. Vodder's treatment was to become known as manual lymphatic drainage
.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
who was a native of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He was the brother of physician Felix von Winiwarter
Felix von Winiwarter
Felix von Winiwarter was an Austrian physician who was a native of Vienna. In 1876 he earned his doctorate at the University of Vienna, and remained in Vienna as an assistant in the clinic of Heinrich von Bamberger...
(1852-1931).
Alexander Winiwarter obtained his medical doctorate in 1870 at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, and worked as a surgical assistant at the Vienna University Clinic under Theodor Billroth
Theodor Billroth
Christian Albert Theodor Billroth was a German-born Austrian surgeon and amateur musician....
, who was a pioneer in the field of modern surgical practices. Later he became head of the surgical department at the Kronprinz-Rudolf-Kinderspitals (Crown Prince Rudolf Children's Hospital), and in 1878 moved to Belgium, where he became a professor of surgery at the University of Liège
University of Liège
The University of Liège , in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, is a major public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French.-History:...
. Subsequently he acquired Belgian citizenship.
In the latter part of the 19th century, Winiwarter introduced specialized massage
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
and compression procedures to treat lymphedema
Lymphedema
Lymphedema , also known as lymphatic obstruction, is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system....
, a disease that causes swollen arms and legs due to fluid retention in the lymphatic system
Lymphatic system
The lymphoid system is the part of the immune system comprising a network of conduits called lymphatic vessels that carry a clear fluid called lymph unidirectionally toward the heart. Lymphoid tissue is found in many organs, particularly the lymph nodes, and in the lymphoid follicles associated...
. In 1932, Danish physiotherapist Emil Vodder
Emil Vodder
Dr. Emil Vodder and his wife Dr. Estrid Vodder pioneered the specialty of medicine called "lymphology". While working on the French Riviera treating patients with chronic colds, they noticed these patients had swollen lymph nodes...
refined and improved Winiwarter's technique to treat lymphedema. Vodder's treatment was to become known as manual lymphatic drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage is a type of gentle massage which is intended by proponents to encourage the natural circulation of the lymph through the body...
.
Selected writings
- Untersuchungen über die Gehörschnecke der Säugethiere (Studies on the CochleaCochleaThe cochlea is the auditory portion of the inner ear. It is a spiral-shaped cavity in the bony labyrinth, making 2.5 turns around its axis, the modiolus....
in Mammals), 1870 - Zur pathologischen Anatomie der Leber (On the Pathological Anatomy of the LiverLiverThe liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
), 1872 - Das maligne Lymphom und das Lymphosarkom (Malignant LymphomaLymphomaLymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
and Lymphosarcoma) in Langenbeck's Archive, 1874 - Beiträge zur Statistik der Carcinome (Contributions involving Statistics of CarcinomaCarcinomaCarcinoma is the medical term for the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. Put simply, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during...
), 1878 - Zur Chirurgie der Gallenwege (On the Surgery of Bile DuctsBile ductA bile duct is any of a number of long tube-like structures that carry bile.Bile, required for the digestion of food, is excreted by the liver into passages that carry bile toward the hepatic duct, which joins with the cystic duct to form the common bile duct, which opens into the intestine.The...
) Commemorative Publication in Honor of Billroth, 1892 - Die chirurgischen Krankheiten der Haut und des Unterhautzellgewebes (Surgical Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue), 1893
- Die Lehre von den chirurgischen Operationen und den chirurgischen Verbänden, 1895