Arne Thorkildsen and Thorkildsen's surgery
Aarli, J.A.; Thorkildsen, A.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 120(30): 3726-3727
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 11215946 Document Number: 523163
Arne Torkildsen (1899-1968) studied neurosurgery for one year at Queen Square and for four years (1930-34) with Wilder Penfield in Montreal. He returned to Oslo, Norway, in 1935 and took up responsibility for the neurosurgical section of the Department of Neurology of the National Hospital of Norway. In 1939, he introduced a new technique for operative treatment of hydrocephalus (ventriculocisternostomy, Torkildsen's shunt). His technique was the first successful procedure for shunting of cerebrospinal fluid and soon became internationally known and accepted as the standard operation for obstruction of the aqueduct or posterior third ventricle. In 1950, he defended his doctoral thesis at the University of Copenhagen, describing the technique and the results of the operation. He was professor of neurosurgery at the University of Cairo, Egypt 1951-1954.