- Intestinal homeostasis is crucial for the entire body. If the balance is lost, the patient may develop extreme obesity or, if absorption is lost - which can happen for a number of reasons we will discuss today - the patient will be like an Egyptian mummy - Professor Kareem Abu-Elmagd said at the beginning of his lecture.
During the lecture, Professor Abu-Elmagd discussed selected problems of intestinal failure, including short bowel syndrome in children, the process of intestinal adaptation and the factors on which it depends, as well as detailed intestinal and multi-organ transplantation, and spoke about intestinal rehabilitation. The lecture was full of interesting stories and expert information for all who wanted to deepen their knowledge of this remarkable medical specialty.
Speaking about his clinical work in the area of intestinal and multi-organ transplants, Professor Abu-Elmagd emphasized:
- For the first three decades of my experience, I oscillated between hope and despair. However, he added: - Perseverance pays off. And you will never regret having been part of teams that advanced medicine and saved lives.
Discussing the indications for isolated intestinal transplantation, which are multi-line infections, liver failure, metabolic disorders, among others, he argued:
- If you really love your patient, you always have to put profits and losses on the line.
He also said that as long as there is an alternative option to transplantation, the decision on whether to perform the transplantation is made together with the patient. And if there is no option - he makes it himself.
Prof. Abu-Elmagd concluded his lecture with the words of Hippocrates, "Wherever there is love for the art of medicine, there is also love for humanity."
- Take it with you: to love humanity, to save lives, you have to love what you do.
The guest speaker was followed by Prof. Michał Grąt, Head of the Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery UCC MUW and Director of the Doctoral School MUW. He thanked the speaker for his inspiring lecture and congratulated him on his achievements.
- You have demonstrated to us a lot of great surgical work.
A discussion with the lecture participants followed.
The lecture was held as part of NAWA STER Internationalization of Doctoral Schools program.