[The 100th birthday of Heinz Kalk. A breakthrough in laparoscopy]

The method of laparoscopy, mainly being introduced as a diagnostic tool, has developed into an important therapeutic procedure during the last decade. This development is associated with the name of the German gastroenterologist Heinz Kalk. Born in Frankfurt/Main in 1895 he first published about laparoscopy in 1929 and also designed a new laparoscope with a prograde optic. He realized the great value of laparoscopy in the differential diagnosis of liver diseases. During the 40's Kalk introduced laparoscopically guided liver biopsy and was involved to a great extent in research of hepatic diseases, especially Hepatitis epidemica. The work of Kalk was of decisive influence for the development of laparoscopy in Europe. In 1949 he became chief of the Department of Internal Medicine of Kassel's hospital "Stadtkrankenhaus", making it one of the most interesting places to be in for hepatologists and laparoscopically working internists. Heinz Kalk died in 1973.