Dr. Namir Katkhouda is a world authority in laparoscopic surgery, having pioneered the first laparoscopic vagotomy for the treatment of gastro duodenal ulcer disease.
Dr. Katkhouda came to the University of Southern California from France in 1993, and is currently Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Program. He is the Director of Laparoscopic Surgery at USC University Hospital. He serves on several committees for the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic surgeons, is a member of the Southwestern Surgical Congress, the Western Surgical Association, the European and French Society of Endoscopic Surgery, and is an honorary member of the Mexican and Asian Society of Laparoscopic Surgery. He is member of the Editorial board of several peer reviewed surgical journals. He is a Fellow of the American and French College of Surgeons.
He is foremost in his approach to advanced laparoscopic procedures, including liver surgery, aortic surgery, gastric resections, and hernia repair. His current research involves the role of laparoscopy in cancer, and the use of robotics and telesurgery for teaching new laparoscopic techniques. He has presented over 250 scientific papers and book chapters and trained more than 800 surgeons on laparoscopic techniques worldwide.
He is very much in demand as a surgeon who implements the newest equipment and best techniques for laparoscopic surgery. He offers patients all laparoscopic approaches for weight loss surgery including hand sewn laparoscopic Roux en Y Gastric Bypass. Dr. Katkhouda was one of first surgeons approved to perform Lap Band for morbid obesity. His current research includes virtual reality in laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive approaches to bariatric surgery and research in the physiology of laparoscopic surgery.
Dr. Katkhouda has authored more than 120 peer review articles and book chapters that document several advances in minimally invasive surgery, and has published two books, "Principles of Laparoscopic Surgery: Basic and Advanced Techniques" (Springer Verlag, 1995 New York). This text covers the range of laparoscopic principles, from basic instrumentation to the critical review of complications to description of advanced procedures. The book also includes other areas such as urology, obstetrics/gynecology, and thoracic surgery. The second book entitled "Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, Techniques and Tips" (W.B. Saunders, 1998) shares practical tips and is a trouble shooting manual illustrated with numerous precise line drawings.
Following is the Preface from "Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, Techniques and Tips:
The day I saw Professor François Dubois in Paris performing one of his early laparoscopic cholecystectomies, I knew that this new surgery would change my life, and that it would profoundly affect the careers of many surgical colleagues throughout the world. I sensed that it would transform the lives of my patients and affect the perception of surgery by the general public. Hence, in addition to developing less invasive surgical techniques, improving patients' postoperative comfort and surgical outcome has been the driving force of my own surgical career.
Reflecting on the past few years, in which I have had the opportunity to teach and perform laparoscopic procedures all over the world, I realize that the foundation of laparoscopic surgery depends on applying principles we all learned in open surgery, but with the addition of the special maneuvers and techniques applicable to a situation where we work through small openings without the ability to manipulate the intra-abdominal organs manually, with the entire process being watched on a two dimensional video screen rather than seen directly.
I have observed that with practice, the necessary hand-brain coordination comes to feel natural. In the process of acquiring this facility, the surgeon learns various 'tips and tricks' that make the procedure easier. This is what I would like to offer surgeons with this book: a hands-on manual that can help the surgeon avoid pitfalls and acquire the necessary laparoscopic skills more quickly and efficiently, and to be a ready source of practical help when trouble-shooting is necessary.
Namir Katkhouda
Dr. Katkhouda completed his medical degree at the University of Montpellier, France. He completed his residency and fellowship in 1984 at the University of Nice, School of Medicine in France, where he was later appointed Vice Chairman and director of Surgical Endoscopy in the Department of surgery.
Dr. Katkhouda received his board certification in surgery in 1987.
Areas of Current Research Include:
Lap Band for safest weight loss surgery
Laparoscopic Splenectomy
Laparoscopic Management of Benign and Solid Cystic Lesions of the Liver
Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair
Laparoscopic Appendectomy
Laparoscopic Highly Selective Vagotomy
Laparoscopic Management of Perforated Duodenal Ulcers
Laparoscopic Management of Acute Cholecystitis and Common Duct Stones
Read Dr. Katkhouda's latest on lap band surgery for morbid obesity
To contact
by email
Or you can contact Dr. Katkhouda by snail-mail at
Department of Surgery
USC Healthcare Consultation Center
1510 San Pablo Street, Suite 514
Los Angeles, CA 90033
or Call 323-442-5709
Fax: 323-442-6279
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