Urogenital surgery of the 15th century in Anatolia.

PURPOSE: We examined the urological procedures of the 15th century covered in the surgery textbook, Cerrahiyyetu'l Haniyye.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Three copies of the surgery textbook, Cerrahiyyetu'l Haniyye (Sultan's Surgery), by Serefeddin Sabuncuoglu, who lived in Turkey between 1385 and 1470, were evaluated. The colorfully miniaturized and illustrated textbook, written 536 years ago, covers a number of surgical disciplines, including urology. We evaluated urological sections with regard to the type of procedures, definitions and approaches for certain diseases and surgical tools used for urological operations.

RESULTS

The textbook reviews the surgical treatment of urological conditions such as varicocele, hydrocele, hermaphroditism, imperforated urinary meatus, meatal stenosis, hypospadias, penile and scrotal lesions, and circumcision techniques. It includes definitions of diseases, etiologies and surgical therapies, and describes surgical instruments. The author also illustrated surgical approaches and instruments.

CONCLUSIONS

A treasure trove of surgical knowledge, Cerrahiyyetu'l Haniyye has enlightened urologists from the 15th century to the present day.