Early Development of Microvascular Surgery in Korea: To the Memory of the Late Dr. Poong Lim.

Park, Jae Gu; Ahn, Sang Tae

Review

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2002;29(1):1-6.
Published online January 1, 2002.

Early Development of Microvascular Surgery in Korea: To the Memory of the Late Dr. Poong Lim.

Jae Gu Park, Sang Tae Ahn

Department of Plastic Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. stahn@cmc.cuk.ac.kr

Abstract

Microvascular surgery in Korea started in 1970's. Doctor Poong Lim was one of several dedicated surgeons who made great efforts to develop this field in Korea. By performing inguinal free flap in 1978, he became the first man who applied microvascular surgical technique to the clinical field in Korea. In addition, he played an important role in the settlement of microvascular surgery in Korea, performing variety of free flaps such as omental free flap, dorsalis pedis free flap, and deltopectoral free flap in 1979. He also introduced microvascular surgery to the traumatic field by successfully performing multiple finger replantation and forearm replantation in 1979. Both his clinical and experimental works made it possible for microvascular surgery to become an important part of plastic surgery in Korea.

Keywords: Microvascular surgery