History – ROMANIAN SOCIETY OF PHLEBOLOGY

Phlebology is the science of medicine that focuses on the study of venous pathology. Etymologically, the word phlebology derives from the association of two Greek words: phlebo = vein and logos = science.

Phlebology is a distinct medical field which concerns a medical pathology that, unfortunately, affects a large part of the population (according to the PEGASUS study: 1/3 of the Romanian population) and whose expenses are not fully known until today. The lack of interest regarding this medical and surgical pathology is justified by the fact that, the absence of treatment does not generate mortality directly. Due to this reason, this pathology does not appear as a direct cause of mortality in statistical analyses. An overview on the main cause of cardio-respiratory arrest (the direct cause of most deaths in any statistical analysis) will reveal, at an alarming rate, one of the dreaded complications of chronic venous insufficiency, namely, embolism.

PHLEBOLOGY IN ROMANIA

In our country, phlebology does not appear in the nomenclature of medical specialties as an independent entity (like in other European countries). Unfortunately, this is an aspect permanently neglected, with unpleasant, even harmful effects for patients and has huge impact on financial losses in the Romanian health system.

Over the years, in Romania we had numerous personalities such as Th. Ionescu, I. Jacobovici, A. Jianu, I. Cadere, I. Florian, Gh. Ghiţescu, I. Florian, etc. that presented medical scientific concerns regarding fundamental and applied research in the vascular field.

In fact, I. Florian is the first who published a monograph in French entitled “Les varices” in 1945.

The one who established himself in Romania through permanent concerns in the field of peripheral vessels in general and in phlebology in particular, was ACADEMICIAN PIUS BRÎNZEU. Pius Brînzeu together with his teams of collaborators from the surgical clinics of the current Municipal Hospital in Timisoara, from the C.F.R. Hospital. Timişoara and then from the First Surgery Clinic of the Timişoara County Hospital, (which he founded and managed until his retirement) successfully promoted and developed in our country a field that was less known at that time, phlebology.

In First Surgery Clinic of the Timişoara he created a phlebological surgical school well known both countrywide and abroad.

In 1998, Andre Davy, Active President and then Honorary President of the International Union of Phlebology, while taking part at the 5th Romanian National Symposium of Phlebology on the topic “History of European Phlebology”, said that:Pius Brînzeu “was the pole of phlebological attraction from Romania and Eastern Europe for the International Union of Phlebology, at its beginnings”. Pius Brînzeu was an erudite, an encyclopedic, a scientist, who managed by an amazing talent to coagulate and channel medical scientific energies for phlebological research. It should be noted that he has published valuable works in national and international medical press; participated in various scientific and international events with significant scientific papers in the field of vascular and phlebology areas. His conclusions remain valid until today, and are not being surpassed despite all the advance made in medicine. There are many examples, of which we only mention:

in the field of fundamental research ,,reversal of circulation in severe ante finem shock
the pathophysiological elements of venous gangrene
the role of venous pressure in assessing the severity of chronic venous insufficiency

As head of the Surgical Clinic at the C.F.R. Hospital. Timisoara, Pius Brînzeu organizes the Scientific Circle of Angiology, Phlebology and Lymphatic Pathology. As Rector of the Institute of Medicine from Timisoara, he laid the foundations for fundamental and applied research and even established an Experimental Medicine Laboratory, equipped for the purpose of scientific medical research. The experimental studies carried out here allowed the development of valuable scientific works for that time. Today, in his memory, the Institute of Experimental Research, bears his name.

From 1974, Pius Brînzeu became the head of the First Surgery Clinic of the current County Clinical Hospital and from that moment, the First Surgery Clinic became the official headquarters of the Romanian Society of Phlebology (which at the beginning was named the “Scientific Circle of Angiology, Phlebology and Lymphatic Pathology”).

In the 1970s, Romanian medical scientific activity took place within the government-statutory framework of the Union of Societies of Medical Sciences (USSM), the only medical society accepted to organize congresses, inter-county conferences, communication meetings and publications in a limited number of medical journals. Scientific events before 1990 were limited and the possibilities of publishing the results of medical scientific research where quite thin, but, through inter-county, regional and national thematic medical conferences, those interested could had access to the correct information in order to be able to properly diagnose and treat this pathology .

On 24th of April, 1979, in the Amphitheater of the C.F.R. Clinical Hospital. from Timişoara, specialists in surgery and dermatology from Timişoara, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Arad, Craiova gathered on the occasion of the Conference with the theme: “Sclerotherapy of varicose veins” – the round table. On this occasion, the Circle of Phlebology and Lymphology was established, which was then affiliated to the U.S.S.M. subsidiary. Timis; Pius Brînzeu was elected as the first president. As secretary of the Phlebology and Lymphology Circle, Ş.L. Dr. Petru Ignat was appointed.

The excellent international collaboration, initiated and permanently maintained by P. Ignat, made the scientific activity of Phlebology Circle from Timisoara, Romania known worldwide. From 1981, Petru Ignat becomes the President of the Timişoara Phlebology Circle, and Dr. Vasile Ivan is appointed secretary. Petru Ignat was both a complete public figure and a complete surgeon, an erudite, built up in the cult of the great masters from Cluj-Napoca, such as Nana, Cosma, Mircioiu, etc. As President of the Phlebology Circle, Professor. Dr. Petru Ignat had an intense organizational activity, permanently maintaining excellent collaboration with the International Union of Phlebology, the organization that brings together all phlebological societies worldwide. Professor Petru Ignat was elected as member of the Executive Board of this organization and, thanks to a special emphasis of the scientific research and the medical and surgical achievements of Timișoara society, the National Circle of Phlebology established in this city, was enrolled in the International Union of Phlebology in 1979. This first international recognition of the achievements and seriousness of researchers from Timisoara, acknowledging them as equal alongside the founders of European phlebology, took place in 1984.

From then until now, through permanent interests and sustained efforts, we have managed to maintain our scientific, medical and surgical activity at the standards of our European colleagues from advanced countries, but with who, we maintain collaborative relationships, exchanges of experience, regarding our common field of phlebological concerns. Currently, thanks to the advances in technology, we communicate online, via e-mail, with the specialists from the whole world specially those who take part in “VASCULAB” forum, a real working group, in permanent contact and through which is constantly updated:

curricula in Phlebology,
constantly changing nomenclature,
preparation of meetings and congresses for each continent and society,
as well as discussions regarding the state of research in each work team, etc.

Through these acknowledged efforts and achievements in the field, we managed to promote phlebology in Romania, to constantly train doctors from our country and abroad as specialists in this field. Moreover we organized training courses at different postgraduate levels in which students from both the country and abroad can take part.

PHLEBOLOGICAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Our scientific activity was acknowledged through the presentations at the world congresses organized by the International Union of Phlebology in Paris, London, Montreal, etc.
In our country, one of the permanent concerns were the promotion, development and recognition of phlebology as a research discipline in the medical-surgical field. Starting from the scientific sessions organized by U.S.S.M Timișoara, where the members of the “Phlebology Circle” monthly communicated 4-5 scientific papers presenting the achievements in the field, the Romanian Society of Phlebology, based in Timișoara, promoted annually over 40 scientific works, on various topics in venous pathology. From 1981-1989, the publications of the Union of Medical Scientific Societies contained over 400 articles in this field, succeeding during this time, in raising the awareness of doctors from all specialties to the challenges and outcomes of this specialty. In addition to these, other possibilities of promoting were the publications in other medical or surgical journals, publications in the summaries of national or international scientific events, etc. Valuable fundamental researches were presented at the international phlebological congresses regarding the etiology of: varicose veins of the lower limbs, postphlebitic disease, the exploration in dynamics, documented by imaging, of the general and selective venous system.

A special contribution to the development of phlebology and scientific research in the field, with excellent international presence, was supported by the aid of the recognized masters in the field from Cluj: A. Kauffmann, A. Andercou, S. Rădulescu, I. Gherman, Fl. Galea, C. Ciuce, A. Mironiuc, I. Zagrean, etc.

The Bucharest Medical Center has been active in the vascular field at two distinct levels. The school of cardio-vascular surgery led by Pop D. Popa Ioan, from the Fundeni Hospital, establishing itself in the field of cardiac and peripheral arterial surgery. During that period, they also developed two exceptional monographs: The arterial-aortic system and the Pathology of the inferior cava vein system.

On the second phlebology level, through Dr. H. Angelescu, regarding the surgical aspects, there were excellent collaborative relations with the phlebology society. In fact, H. Angelescu is the promoter of a surgical method of hemodynamic phlebectomy from the 60s, almost 10 years ahead of the C.H.I.V.A. method proposed by Cl. Franceschi. The distinguished Dr. Gh. Bucur, a dermatologist, also worked on the same phlebological level, carrying out a high-quality medical phlebological activity. The two brilliant doctors were considered the master creators of the phlebological schools.

The Craiova Medical Center through Voicu Tănase, the author of the monograph “Calf ulcer” promoted surgical phlebology throughout Oltenia.

Petru Ignat together with the staff of the First Surgery Clinic and collaborators from other medical specialties (Radiology, Intensive Care, Morphopathology) have permanently improved the methods of diagnosis and treatment of the venous diseases. The recognition of these achievements objectified after P. Ignat and the collaborators: E. Caba, N. Bota, M. Teodorescu, J. Avram, V. Ivan, N. Mocanu, Didina Toma published, at the Academy Publishing House, Bucharest 1985, the monograph “Surgery of the venous system of the lower limbs” appreciated by specialists as an excellent work. At the Facla Publishing House in Timisoara, in 1987, P. Ignat, as sole author, published the monograph “Chronic venous insufficiency”. The two monographs occupied a precise site, that of phlebology. These two monographs came to complete the studies and researches elaborated by P. Brînzeu 25 years ago.

DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE

Due to the initiative of the central core of the Phlebology Circle from Timişoara, led by Petru Ignat, the Circle succeeded to organize and host, the First National Phlebology Symposium in Romania during October 26th-28th, 1989, while managing to stand up to all standards and aspects in the field.

This scientific manifestation, the first of this magnitude in the field in our country, attracted the attention of the higher forums of the U.S.S.M., which officially and finally accepted, that the “Circle of Phlebology” must be officially registered as a National Section and must take part in the official documents of Union of Medical Scientific Societies from Romania. 5 years had already passed since the « Circle of Phlebology » from Timisoara has been recognized worldwide, and officially registered in the International Union of Phlebology with the status of a unique national, Romanian medical scientific society (1985). The news published in the international press on that occasion stated: “THE FIRST ROMANIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS OF PHLEBOLOGY will take place in Romania, Timișoara, under the patronage of the International Union of Phlebology”, Timișoara being put on the same level, of phlebological research, as Paris, Montreal, London. The historical truth, also documented by USSM publications, is that finally, 15 years after the first national phlebology scientific event, The National Congress of Phlebology is organized in Timișoara, marking the first national scientific event in the field. The congress was named “symposium” in the Romanian language documents, although it was held, by all standards, like any other international congress. This happened due to the Central Forum of the U.S.S.M. from Romania who did not allow the use of the name “congress”. The institution that censored every printed word considered: «inappropriate name for a medical conference ». In fact, it seems that the origin of the word ,,congress” was considered inappropriate; coming from the Latin «congresus», it was taken as such in English, then in French and, following the loss of an “s”, also in Romanian. For scientific work in Romania and for phlebology in particular, the years 1990-1991 were massively influenced by the reorganization and orientation on new paths. At the “reconfirmation meeting” of the scientific societies in Timisoara, in January 1992, The National Society of Phlebology was not included in this official nomenclature, for reasons that did not relate to the scientific research. It has been intentionally “forgotten”, because no legal reason was found to change the leadership of a National Scientific Society, established, registered and operating according to the provisions of the statute of the International Union of Phlebology. The requests that were made then on all channels, the insistence on fixing the situation, even the warnings on the indefinite consequences on the risk that in venous pathology Romanian medicine will not be able to keep up with international progress in the field, remained without an official answer. At that time, Romanian phlebology was recognized on both a European and global level, it was member of the Executive Office of the International Union of Phlebology, and there was a risk of non-compliance with previously assumed responsibilities and leading to the loss of hardly gained advantages obtained over time. In this unprecedented situation for the new scientific medical Romania and having as its core the doctors of the First Surgery Clinic, Dr. Ivan V. made all the necessary official steps and submitted to the Timişoara Court the documentation for the registration of the Romanian Society of Phlebology as a scientific body with legal personality. The court decision from Timisoara announced on February 14th, 1992 confirmed the constitution of The ROMANIAN SOCIETY OF PHLEBOLOGY as a non-governmental non-profit scientific organization with legal personality, with headquarters in the municipality of Timişoara, Bv. Liviu Rebreanu, no. 156, in the headquarters of the Emergency County Clinical Hospital.

The years 1990, 1991, 1992 were particularly active in maintaining good relations with the International Union of Phlebology and with other European Societies of Phlebology. Special moral support was continuously received from the French Society of Phlebology, the German Society of Phlebology, the Japanese Society of Phlebology, the American Society of Phlebology. Since 1992, every 2 years, with regularity, the National Phlebology Symposiums have resumed. The name “symposium” was still kept due to the official documents of the congresses, and fear of definitive “disappearance” of Romanian achievements regarding phlebology.

From 1994, Dr. Ivan Vasile was elected as President of The Romanian society of Phlebology. At the meeting regarding the report and conclusions that took place at the end of The 6th National Symposium of Phlebology in 2000, Dr. Ivan proposed that the scientific manifestation of the Romanian Society of Phlebology should be called ,,Congress”. The new name was unanimously approved, considering that all the criteria of a national medical scientific congress with international participation according to the rules, were fulfilled.

RESEARCH CENTER

First Surgery Clinic was founded once the Timișoara County Emergency Clinical Hospital, begun its activity on August 1st, 1973. The initial nucleus of the clinic was led by Academician Prof. Dr. PIUS BRÎNZEU.

Through Academician Prof. Dr. PIUS BRÎNZEU, the First Surgery Clinic was considered a descendant and continuation of the French surgical school initiated in Strassbourg by Prof. Dr. RENE LERICHE, a personality who dominated world surgery in the interwar period.

Professor and then Academician PIUS BRÎNZEU, an exceptional surgeon, a man of high culture and specially a surgical school trainer, is considered the founder of phlebology in Romania.
The reasons for this distinction are countless, but the unanimously recognized ones are the following.

In 1953, he published in the State Publishing House, a volume entitled “Varicose disease”, a reference monograph for venous pathology. There are the first important concerns from this period in relation to:

the physiopathology of the return circulation of the venous system of the lower limbs,
paraclinical explorations (phlebography, manometry) in venous diseases,
the first in-depth studies regarding the therapeutic of varicose veins.

The researcher and clinician Pius Brînzeu becomes “the father of Romanian phlebology” for those who were concerned and managed to publish their research in the field of phlebology.
In 1957, the monograph “Venous thrombosis of the lower limbs” appeared – Bucharest Medical Publishing House, a monograph of great value at that time and which has accurate information even today.

To continue and expand the research in the field of venous pathology, Academician PIUS BRÎNZEU initiated and developed experimental research in surgery by creating the Laboratory of Experimental Medicine of the University of Medicine, which currently bears his name.

Pius Brînzeu is also the author of a rich and valuable specialized literature embodied in research articles published in Romanian journals and from abroad. In addition to this, he designed numerous monographs (Angiography in medical practice – 1975; Therapeutic guide in cardio-vascular diseases – 1977; Facla Timişoara Publishing House, etc.), courses for students and numerous scientific documentary films made on the occasion of microcirculation research in shock states.

In 1973, Prof. Dr. Pius Brînzeu was elected Rector of the University of Medicine in Timisoara and Head of the First Surgery Clinic in the County Clinical Hospital No. 1 Timisoara. Under his leadership, the young team of doctors and the auxiliary staff managed to create an elite medical unit. He instilled in them both the passion for research and the practical ways to achieve it in order to be at the top of the game throughout the time.

Academician Prof. Dr. PIUS BRÎNZEU during his lessons and courses never forgets to emphasize, elements of ethics and deontology, pointing out, whenever he had the opportunity, that the doctor in general and the surgeon in particular, must be not only a technician , but, above all, a good man and an artist in his profession. That is why he was constantly concerned with the careful selection of talented people in order to guide them in becoming surgeons. Moreover, he would help them acquire the most out of both theoretical and practical knowledge. In this sense, he initiated the first optional course on ethics and deontology in medicine and insisted on practicing surgery in the way of “surgery as an art”. We mention some of the monographs he developed on this topic, monographs of real value appreciated even today:

“Esthetic education in surgery” (1966) Bucharest Didactic and Pedagogical Publishing House;
“Clinical sense and the art of diagnosis” (1973) Publishing House Facla Timisoara;
“Surgery, science or art?”
“Beyond the scalpel in surgery” (1988) Bucharest Academic Publishing House;
“Asclepios” (1989) Publishing House Facla Timisoara;
“Thinking and skill in surgery” (1992) Bucharest Academic Publishing House;
“Great achievements in surgery” (1997) Timişoara West Publishing House.

Endowed with great work power and special tenacity, devoted to his job until the point of sacrifice, his job had become a passion without which he could not live. Due to his special theoretical and practical training, permanently concerned with medical scientific research, experiments and led to constantly introducing new techniques in surgical practice, Academician PIUS BRÎNZEU remained a unique example for all those who had the chance to know him and became his students and collaborators. It formed a prestigious surgical and phlebological school, which has established itself nationally and internationally and brings honor to our university education and medical practice.

For his extensive scientific, didactic and medical activity, and for his special merits, he was elected as member of the presidium of the Academy of Medicine and then a Member of the Romanian Academy. He took part in numerous national and international scientific societies where he stood out through an intense activity in promoting Romanian medicine. He was the first to approach surgery on a physiological basis and managed to master an impeccable technique during the surgical act. These indisputable influences were learned from his master René Leriche and the golden team from Strasbourg, formed by: Fontaine, Kunlin, De Backey , Cid Dos Santos. When he operated, the Master’s surgical wounds always looked like the ones from a surgical atlas.

He made numerous contributions to medical and surgical development, from introducing new exploration methods, to original surgical techniques, innovative surgical instrumentation, new concepts and guidelines in phlebological therapeutics, all of which are appreciated and remain relevant even today. Together with his collaborators and the team he put together in the First Surgery Clinic alongside with Professor Marius Teodorescu, they made these important achievements.

After the retirement of Academician PIUS BRÎNZEU in 1981, the management of the clinic was taken over by Prof. Dr. Petru Ignat, until 1995 when Prof. Dr. Marius Teodorescu became head of the clinic. From 2011 Prof Dr Sorin Olariu is the head of Surgical Clinic I.

In venous surgery, excisional surgery of the superficially degenerated varicose system was applied, and more recently, conservative surgery such as the Chiva operation, valve reconstruction emerged as well, etc. Regarding the perforating veins, new original techniques have been implemented, alongside with the current practice of the most modern surgical interventions (endoscopic ligatures). Regarding the deep venous system (still difficult to treat surgically worldwide) satisfactory results were obtained by the technique of phlebectomy and valvuloplasty.

In 1983, a Phlebology Cabinet was founded as part of the First Surgery Clinic, first and one of a kind in Romania. This was created in order to help the patients with venous diseases, and it allowed the management of some phlebology issues via ambulatory.

Following a Protocol signed with the Management of the Hemodialysis Center, 1-3 therapeutic arterio-venous fistulas are daily made in patients with chronic renal failure, in the First Surgery Clinic. Apart from the surgical activity, the team of the First Surgery Clinic carried out a rich activity in the specialized outpatient clinic of Polyclinic No. 1 and 2. Small interventions that did not require hospitalization, dressings, compressive bandages and sclerosing injections were practiced.

Our possibilities for diagnosing venous diseases are complex; in addition to the clinical examination, our doctors practice Doppler ultrasonography, endoscopic and ultrasound investigations. Original methods of investigation were introduced such as: selective phlebography, orthostatic dynamic phlebography.

First Surgery Clinic, the heart of Romanian Society of Phlebology, represents an important medical education base. More than 100 series of fourth-year General Medicine students, Romanians and foreigners, were trained in surgical pathology. Within the university medical education, a great emphasis is focused on the practical training of students and the acquisition of basic theoretical knowledge. The students are engaging in the research activity and a large number of them completed their undergraduate theses within the clinic.

The First Surgery Clinic has functioned since its beginning as a prestigious post-graduate education center for secondary doctors and for training in surgical specialties. Regarding the doctors formation, doctors were trained in the clinic, all of them managing to find a workplace in the county, or in neighboring counties and some of them taking an academic path. Some of them have become heads of departments Countless medical training courses were organized with participation of specialists and senior doctors, in order to keep up with the news and innovations of peripheral vascular surgery.

In order to perfect their surgical training, a large part of the clinic’s members took part in courses both in Romania and abroad.

Always keeping in mind the basic principles of scientific research:

to be based on a prolonged, deep and systematic observation
be the result of experience and experiment,
the research conclusions will not make reference to transcendence and metaphysical concepts.
to benefit from repetition, from a large number of experiments that can easily be repeated under the same conditions.
the writing of the research should be carried out without references to famous names only when it is necessary to establish the continuity of the study.
the work should be easily approachable, written in a language of current use.
to become a practical application as quickly as possible

The clinic’s scientific research was focused on several areas of venous pathology:

surgery of superficial vein,
surgery of the deep venous system,
diagnosis and treatment possibilities in congenital venous diseases,
the research of the embryological development of the venous system of the lower limbs,
endoscopic surgery of perforating veins,
reconstruction of the valve system,
prophylaxis and treatment of relapses in varicose disease,
prophylaxis and treatment of chronic venous insufficiency and complications: post-thrombotic syndrome and calf ulcer.

In recent years, remarkable results have been obtained in the treatment of peripheral venous pathology through the purchase of modern equipment (endovenous laser, radiofrequency device, cryostripping device).

The members of our Clinic are part of the management of the relevant scientific societies: the Romanian Society of Phlebology (Prof. Dr. Sorin Olariu-president), Balkan Venous Forum – Conf. Dr. Radu Daniela – founding member, moreover they are members of the world-recognized Scientific Societies such as:

International Union of Phlebology,
International Union of Angiology,
Central European Vascular Forum,
Romanian Society of Surgery.

In addition to this, the members of our Clinic also take part in:

The National Group of Venous Pathology Experts: Prof. Dr. Teodorescu M, Prof.Dr. Olariu S, S.L.dr. Ivan V, Conf. Radu D, a non-governmental organization made up of phlebologist specialists, dermatologists, from all university centers in Romania. The Group of Experts had biannual working meetings. The purpose of these meetings is the clarification of competencies in the field of diagnosis and treatment of venous diseases, the performance of multicenter clinical studies to establish the epidemiology and morbidity of varicose disease in our country, the development of diagnostic and treatment guidelines. Following these meetings, notable results were obtained and progress was made in the field. In each university center, regular working meetings were organized with the general practitioners who were also introduced in carrying out the clinical studies. Following the conclusions of these activities, guidelines and written protocols were developed, in the field of addressability, investigation possibilities for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic venous insufficiency.

The Clinic`s doctors took part in numerous scientific events, both at national and international level: Sofia – 1982, Paris – 1983, London – 1985, Kyoto-1986, Essen – 1987, Strassbourg – 1989, Vienna – 1990, Frankfurt am Main – 1991, Montreal – 1992, Berlin – 1992, Budapest 1992, Corsica – 1994, Oslo-1999, Amsterdam-2001, Chisinau-2003, Prague-2004, Dubrovnik –2004,2005,2007, Slovenia-2004, Rio de Janeiro-2005, Szeged -2005, Prague-2005, 2006, Warsaw-2006, Novi Sad –2006, 2007, Athena-2007, Bratislava-2008, Prague 2009, Warsaw 2009, Monaco 2009, Boston 2013,Budapesta 2013,2017, Lyon 2016, Londra 2017, Maastricht 2017, Melbourne 2018, Wien 2018, Dubai 2022, Roma 2022, etc.

Doctoral and postdoctoral scientific research initiated under the coordination of the late Academician Pius Brînzeu, was continued by the late Prof.Dr.P.Ignat and is currently carried out at the highest standards under the leadership of Prof.Dr.Olariu Sorin. The research topics were represented by major problems of surgical pathology and are part from the research topic of the clinic. Part of the doctoral theses have become reference works in the studied problem, through their theoretical and practical value.

The Romanian Society of Phlebology, as a non-governmental, purely scientific organization, gathers surgeons, dermatologists, general practitioners, radiologists, medical recovery specialists in national congresses once every 2 years, to debate the problem of disabling, money-consuming pathology and which affects more than 30% of citizens from Romania.

The Romanian Society of Phlebology marks each congress with the release of thematic monographs in venous pathology, true diagnostic and treatment guides for venous diseases.

The Romanian Society of Phlebology promotes in Romania through the Romanian Journal of Phlebology (CNCSIS rated journal) current data on venous pathology from various Romanian medical centers and abroad and makes them known through M.S. and C.M.R.

The Romanian Society of Phlebology has an excellent collaboration with the Romanian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery based in Cluj-Napoca, led by the distinguished Professor Dr. A. Andercou. The Romanian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery organize national congresses every two years in odd years, and the Romanian Society of Phlebology in even years. As such, in Romania for the last 15 years there have been manifestations in the peripheral vascular domain, annually. We cannot omit our senior deans Dr. Gh. Bucur and Dr. H. Angelescu from the brief presentation at medical center in Bucharest where they created priority monographs in Romanian phlebology or operative techniques, hemodynamic, pathological aspects, moreover, they planted phlebology in a fertile field. In addition, Dr. Gh. Bucur also published the third volume of the monograph entitled “Practical medical and dermatological phlebology”.

Now all over the county and especially in university medical centers, there are medical offices or private clinics that approach the treatment and study of phlebology.
The Romanian Society of Phlebology maintains relations with the National Societies of Phlebology from France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Great Britain, Scandinavia, USA. Numerous members of the Romanian Society of Phlebology took part at the Congresses of the International Union of Phlebology organized every 4 years and which brings together 3,500-4,000 participants, as well as the continental zonal congresses organized every two years: European, North American, South American, Afro-Asian, Asian. The Romanian Society of Phlebology maintains excellent relations with the more than 30 societies included in the International Union of Phlebology, as a result the U.I.P. continues sponsoring the congresses organized by us.
All congresses have been highlighted by the participation of world-known professors in the field: Professor Georges Jantet, Professor Angelo Scuderi, President of the 15th World Congress of the International Union of Phlebology, Cl. Allegra, L. Castellani, C. Spartera, P.L. Antignani. E.Rabbe.

On average, 200 doctors take part in each congress organized by the Romanian Society of Phlebology. The medical discoveries and therapeutic premiers in phlebology have a high priority and are presented as a result of the high-performance endowment of some medical services or as an import of “traditional therapeutics” from other continents.

Since 2000, the Congresses of Phlebology have been credited to C.M.E. (continuous medical education) entering the national continuous training program.

Also, the Romanian Journal of Phlebology is credited to C.M.E.

All Phlebology Congresses were organized by dint of an excellent collaboration with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V. Babeş” from Timişoara, Timiş Public Health Directorate, Timişoara County Clinical Hospital, having constant support and collaboration from local authorities such as Timişoara Municipal Council, Timiş County Council, Timiş County Prefecture. The materials needed and as well as other manifestations that took part on these occasions could be made possible through the participation fees and the support of some local companies or drug manufacturers, of which it some stand out for their fidelity and availability (Les Laboratoires Servier, Alfa Sigma, etc.). Data regarding phlebology congresses were published in the journal of the International Union of Phlebology, in French, in Phlebology, Annales Vasculaires.

If we were to paraphrase A. Davy, we could say that this medico-surgical nucleus of the First Surgery Clinic in collaboration with the Dermatology Clinic became the pole of attraction for Romanian phlebology and not coincidentally, the headquarters of the Romanian Phlebology Society and the Editorial Office of the Romanian Phlebology Magazine are located in the metropolis on Bega.

The members of the Romanian Society of Phlebology in Timisoara have a rich phlebology related scientific publishing activity, materialized in priority works in the domain of fundamental and applied research in Romania.

The team of researchers of the First Surgery clinic founded the Romanian Angiology Forum, affiliated to the Central European Vascular Forum, the Timisoara Angiology Society, affiliated to the Romanian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, as well as the Ambulatory Surgery Society, whose congresses were held under the presidency Prof. Dr. Avram J.

The results of scientific research are known at international congresses, published in specialized journals from the country and abroad.

The ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF PHLEBOLOGY recognized by CNCSIS, has the editor-in-chief the president of the Romanian Society of Phlebology, Prof. Dr. Sorin Olariu. The editorial team includes almost all the members of the First Surgery Clinic team, members of Romanian Society of Phlebology, but also brand specialists in the field from abroad, such as: Andre Davy, George Jantet , Michel Perrin, Walbert Jakab, Claudio Spartera, Tessari Lorenzo, Alex. Zaporojan.

The morphopathological studies were carried out in the Pathological Anatomy Laboratory of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara led by prof.dr.N. Tudose, then by Prof. Dr. Elena Potencz, Prof. Dr. Alice Dema.

All these achievements have been published or presented at various scientific events over time. Countless articles were published in journals: International Angiology, Surgery, Experimental Medical-Surgical research, Romanian Journal of Phlebology, , Phlebology, Lyon Surgical, Journal of Angiology Medical Vascular Surgery, Ann.d’Anatomie Pathologique, Archive de L’Union Medicale Balcanique, Presse Medicale, Viata Medicala, Timisoara Medical Journal, Info-Medica, Central European Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Romanian J. of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, etc. All of the above prove the scientific research activity and the permanent concerns of the members of The First Surgery Clinic.

The members of the First Surgery Clinic have developed numerous monographs, books and specialized courses that prove their permanent concern for the progress of phlebology:

Clinical studies in the field of phlebology:

S.E.P.I.A. (national epidemiological study on chronic venous insufficiency) 2004-2005 Servier Pharma general manager, Jerome Gavet.
PEGAS (Prevalence of Calf Edema in Outpatient Clinics -) National epidemiological study on chronic venous disease – 2006
VEIN CONSULT May June 2009

They brought us satisfaction through practically applicable results for improving the diagnosis and treatment of various venous diseases.

The interdisciplinary scientific research program, between the First Surgery Clinic discipline of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V. Babeş” Timişoara and the Department of Material Resistance of the ,,Politehnica University” Timişoara, entitled Study of the resistance of the venous wall from the superficial network to stretching. Duration of the protocol 5.05.1998 – 5.05.2003
The interdisciplinary scientific research program, between the First Surgery Clinic discipline of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “V. Babeş” Timişoara and the Physical Education discipline of the Auto School Group Timişoara, entitled Research of venous reflux in the superficial and deep venous system in school and high school communities by age groups. Measures to prevent chronic venous insufficiency in the investigated age groups. Duration of the protocol 2002 – 2005.

We hope that the research projects completed in previous years, as well as those that are ongoing, will bring us satisfaction, recognition and international visibility at least at the level that our ancestors got us used to.

In conclusion:

In the First Surgery Clinic, more than 100,000 patients have been admitted and underwent surgery, with a mortality rate of less than 2%, since its foundation in January 1973.

Almost the entire range of major surgical interventions were addressed. Of these, 16% were patients who presented various venous diseases, acute and chronic, successfully resolved.

The research teams have carried out countless studies and scientific papers communicated and published at scientific events in the field, in the country and abroad.

Numerous monographs were developed, new surgical instruments were patented and surgical techniques and original methods were introduced regarding the therapeutics of venous diseases.
The Romanian Society of Phlebology organizes, under the patronage of the International Union of Phlebology, every 2 years, starting from 1989, national congresses with international participation.

The Romanian Journal of Phlebology, a CNCSIS-listed journal, publishes original articles in the field of surgery and phlebology in particular.

In the field of venous pathology, the First Surgery Clinic, the Romanian Society of Phlebology cradle, has great experience, being recognized worldwide, and is still considered in the same league as other large European centers.