Surname : Al-Ma'toug.
Name : Safwan Abdul-Rahman Taha.
Date of birth : April, 29th, 1960; Basrah - IRAQ.
Nationality : Iraqi.
Education : Primary school [ 1965 - 1971 ]
Secondary (high) school [ 1971 - 1977 ]
College of Medicine [ 1977 - 1983 ]
Date of primary qualifications : June, 1983
Undergraduate degree & University : M.B.Ch.B.
[ University of Basrah College of Medicine ]
Rank and average on graduation : Third (out of 119), 72.45 %; [ Grade = good ]
Postgraduate degrees : Certificate of the Arab Board of Surgery, 1992; [C.A.B.S.]. The Degree is Granted by The Arab League.
Language of instruction : All undergraduate and post-graduate teaching was in
ENGLISH.
Professional experience :
1. Aug. 1983 - Aug. 1984 : Internship, Basrah General Hospital :
. Surgery "general & branches" -6 months
. Medicine "general & pediatrics"-6 months
2. Oct. 1984 - Nov. 1986 : Senior House Officer [SHO], General Surgery; Basrah General Hospital
3. Nov. 1986 - Nov. 1987 : SHO, Cardio-thoracic & Vascular Surgery; Basrah Teaching Hospital.
4. Nov. 1987 - Nov. 1988 : Registrar, General Surgery; Basrah General Hospital.
5. Nov. 1988 - May 1989 : Registrar, Orthopedic Surgery; Basrah General Hospital.
6. May 1989 - Nov. 1989 : Registrar, Surgical Casualty & Trauma Unit; Basrah General Hospital
7. Nov. 1989 - May 1990 : Registrar of Urology, Basrah General Hospital.
8. May 1990 - Nov. 1990 : Registrar of Neurosurgery, Basrah Teaching Hospital.
9. Nov. 1990 - Feb. 1992 : Senior Registrar, General Surgery; Basrah Teaching Hospital.
10. March 1992 : Specialist Surgeon, Basrah Teaching Hospital & Lecturer, Department of Surgery, University of Basrah College of Medicine, Basrah, IRAQ.
Current Position :
*Professor; Department of Surgery; University of Basrah College of Medicine, Basrah; IRAQ.
*Consultant Surgeon (Gastroenterologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon) Basrah Teaching Hospital; IRAQ.
* Editor; "Basrah Journal of Surgery", a self-financed, bi-annual journal of Surgery and related sciences published by the Department of Surgery, Basrah College of Medicine. The first issue was released on March 1995 with the participation of authoritative, international authors. The Journal is included in the Index Medicus for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (IMEMR) and it can be accessed in WHO/EMRO web site on the Internet at the address http://www.who.sci.eg ; It is also included in the collection of the National Library of Medicine (the international Index Medicus), Bethesda, Maryland; USA. The ISSN assigned for the Journal is 633-3589.
Scientific affiliations :
*Member; Iraqi Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
*Member; Iraqi Society for Surgeons.
*Member; European Digestive Society (EDS).
*Member; Arab Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons.
*Member; Egyptian Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons.
*Member; American Society of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
Miscellaneous activities :
*Visiting Lecturer & Examiner to Baghdad University College of Medicine for a full month (October, 1999). It resulted in a letter of commendation and appreciation from the Dean of the Medical College and another one from the Chairman of the Department of Surgery.
*Visiting Examiner to the University of Science and Technology College of Medicine (Irbid; Jordan) for both Graduation (6th year final) Examinations and Post-Graduate Examinations (High Specialization Degree in Surgery), May, 2001.
*Visiting Lecturer to the University of Science and Technology College of Medicine, Irbid; Jordan. The visit took a full week in May, 2001, during which lectures and clinical sessions were given to fourth and sixth year medical students as well as post-graduate students (candidates for the Degree of High Specialization of Surgery).
Postgraduate supervision :
*Actively involved in training postgraduate candidates. So far has supervised 10 candidates for the Certificate of the Arab Board of Surgery, 8 candidates for the Certificate of the Iraqi Commission of Medical Sciences (Surgery) and 8 candidates for the High Diploma of Surgery (granted by University of Basrah College of Medicine).
*Participated (as committee member) in assessing and discussing
a large number of postgraduate theses.
Papers :
1."Thoracotomy for paraplegia caused by missile injury; Report of a case", published in The Journal of Neurological & Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery; Vol. 9, Issue 3, October 1988.
2."The policy of management of breast cancer in Basrah General Hospital. A 5-year retrospective study." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol.1 ,No.1, March 1995.
3."Simple ligation versus purse-string invagination of the appendicular stump in appendectomy. A prospective randomized study. "A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol.1, No.2, September 1995.
4."Thyroid abscess." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol.1, No.2, September 1995.
5."Cecectomy in penetrating cecal injuries." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol.2, No.1, March 1996.
6."The validity of some dyspeptic symptoms in the diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol.2, No.2, September 1996.
7. "Goitre in Basrah; A 10-Year Retrospective Study." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 2, No. 2, September 1996.
8."Infusion cholecystography in Acute gall bladder disease." A paper published in the Iraqi Medical Journal, Vol. 46, 1997.
9."Congenital annular stenosis of the lower third of the esophagus; A case report. A case report published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol.3, No.1, March 1997.
10."The role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the detection of malignancy in discrete thyroid swellings; A prospective study." A paper accepted for publication in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol.3, No.1, March, 1997.
11."Urinary tract stones with Massive proportions." A case report accepted for publication to the Iraqi Medical Journal (Ref. # 505; Date: October, 26, 1997).
12."Diarrhoea after Highly Selective Vagotomy and Extended Highly Selective Vagotomy: A Parasitic Infestation." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 4, No. 1, March 1998.
13."Hirscsprung’s Disease in Basrah: A 10-Year Experience." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 5, No. 1, March 1999.
14."Choledochal cyst in children less than 10 years old; A report of 8 cases". A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 5, No. 2, September 1999.
15."Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy in the management of bleeding esophageal varices; The Basrah Experience". A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 5, No. 2, September 1999.
16."The profile of anorectal infections in Basrah". A prospective study accepted for publication in Tikrit University Medical Journal (Ref # 041562; Date: December, 7, 1999).
17."The bacteriological profile of acute appendicitis in Basrah." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 6, No. 1, March 2000.
18."The efficiency of duodenal aspirate in the diagnosis of parasitosis and candidiasis." A paper accepted for publication in Qatar Medical Journal (Ref. # 496, Date; March, 12, 2000).
19."A New Modification for Closure of Hemorrhoidectomy Wounds." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 7, No. 1, March 2001.
20."Intraoperative Lymphatic Mapping and Axillary Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection for Primary Carcinoma of the Breast; The Current Standing." A review article published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol.7, No. 1, March 2001.
21."A new Modification of Thyroidectomy wound Closure; A Comparative Study." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 7, No. 2, September 2001.
22."Robotic and Non-Invasive Surgery." A review article published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 7, No. 2, September 2001.
23."How I Do It: Closed Hemorrhoidectomy." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 7, No. 2, September 2001.
24." Nasogastric suction; Is it necessary after highly selective vagotomy?" A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 8, No. 1, March 2002.
25."Tactile Imaging of Breast Masses." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 8, No. 1, March 2002.
26."Combination Medical Therapy in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 8, No. 2, September 2002.
27."How I Do It: Appendicectomy." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 8, No. 2, September 2002.
28."Routine Internal Sphincterotomy With Hemorrhoidectomy for Third and Fourth Degree Hemorrhoids greatly improves the outcome." A paper published in the Iraqi Journal of Gastroenterology, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2003.
29."Surgical Management of Incisional Hernia; The Current Standing." A review article published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 10, No. 1, March 2004.
30." Diabetic Foot Management; The Profile and Outcome in Basrah." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 10, No. 2, September 2004.
31."The Closed Technique in the Treatment of Pilonidal Sinus Gives Superior Results to the Conventional Open Technique: A Prospective Study." A paper published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 11, No. 1, March 2005.
32."Huge Common Bile Duct Stone; Report of a Case." A case report published in Basrah Journal of Surgery, Vol. 11, No. 1, March 2005.
Audit :
1. The paper "Simple ligation versus purse-string invagination of the appendicular stump in appendectomy. A prospective randomized study." Changed the routine policy of most surgeons, not only in the hospital but also in the province and country, to the one presented here. It particularly resulted in dramatic improvement in patient morbidity and made more hospital beds available.
2."Cecectomy in penetrating cecal injuries." This paper changed what previously was regarded as a rule saving the patient considerable morbidity and making considerable economic and cost-effective gain. Gastrointestinal surgeons welcomed it and widely adopted this new technique.
3. "Infusion cholecystography in Acute gall bladder disease." At the time, this paper solved the dilemma of choosing the patients properly for urgent cholecystectomy when the other diagnostic tools were inaccessible because of the economic embargo that was imposed on the country then.
4."Diarrhoea after Highly Selective Vagotomy and Extended Highly Selective Vagotomy: A Parasitic Infestation." Helped solve this not uncommon, yet troublesome, complication of highly selective vagotomy offering the clue and the solution.
5."Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy in the management of bleeding esophageal varices; The Basrah Experience." Was actually the starting point of such service in Basrah and Southern Iraq at large.
6."A New Modification for Closure of Hemorrhoidectomy Wounds." This simple procedure vastly improved postoperative morbidity to the point that most junior surgeons in the hospital are performing it routinely.
7. "Routine Internal Sphincterotomy With Hemorrhoidectomy for Third and Fourth Degree Hemorrhoids greatly improves the outcome." Gained wide acceptance when presented at the National Congress of the Hepatology and Gastroenterology Centre in Baghdad in view of the dramatic improvement it produces regarding postoperative morbidity.
8."The Closed Technique in the Treatment of Pilonidal Sinus Gives Superior Results to the Conventional Open Technique: A Prospective Study." Changed the attitude concerning what was once inarguably correct. It is now the standard approach for most our surgeons for the uncomplicated case.
9."Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy after total gastrectomy for gastric malignancy" has been presented in clinical conferences, national and international, with wide acceptance. It stimulated a comeback to this technique instead of the more complicated pouch-forming procedures with beneficial outcome.
10."Routine 3 Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Furhter Minimizing Access.", taking the extra step in further minimizing access in Lap. Chole. Gained wide popularity amongst laparoscopic surgeons not only in Basrah, but Iraq at large.
11."Electrocauterization of the Cystic Artery Versus Clipping in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy." made the procedure quicker and less costly without affecting its safety.
Training Courses :
*A five-week hands-on training course in Laparoscopy and Laparoscopic Surgery in the Unit of Endoscopy and Laparoscopy, Departmenof Surgery, University of Baghdad College of Medicine. The training course was held in cooperation with the Medical City in Baghdad during September and October, 1999.
*A two-week training course in Laparoscopy and Laparoscopic Diagnostic techniques in the Centre of Hepatology and Gastroenterology in Baghdad, October, 1999.
*A five-day workshop of Laparoscopic Surgery assisting a team of German Laparoscopic Surgeons in actual, live surgical operations. Each working day involved laparoscopic procedures, on selected patients, from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm. The workshop was held in Baghdad in September, 1999.
*The Course of Advanced Colorectal Laparoscopic Procedures, IRCAD Institute, Strasbourg, France. 24-25 June, 2005.
Conferences attended :
1. Basrah First Medical Conference, 1992; Speaker.
2. Basrah Scientific and Medical Conference, 1993; Speaker.
3. The Second Convention of the Iraqi Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baghdad, November 1998; Speaker.
4. The First Pan-Iraqi Tumor Convention, Basrah, March 2000; Speaker.
5. The 1st Scientific Day of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Centre in Basrah, March 2000; Speaker, two papers presented.
6. The First Pan-Iraqi Surgical Convention, Baghdad, October 2000; Speaker, two papers presented.
7. The 3rd Convention of the Iraqi Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baghdad, November 2000; Speaker.
8. The 2nd Scientific Day of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Centre in Basrah, March 2001; Speaker
9. The First Medical Conference (and the 15th Scientific Day) of the University of Science and Technology Medical School, Irbid, Jordan, April 2001; Speaker, two papers presented.
10. The 2nd Convention of the Iraqi Society for Surgeons, Baghdad, November 2001. Speaker.
11. The 11th convention of the Pan Arab Association of Surgeons and the 6th convention of the Syrian Society for General Surgeons, Damascus, Syria, November (9th-11th) 2001. Speaker.
12. The 37th Convention of the Iraqi Medical Society held in Baghdad, February 2002.
13. The Second Pan-Iraqi Tumor Convention, Basrah, February 2002; Speaker.
14. The Scientific Day of The Surgical Consultation Committee in Basrah held in September, 2002; Speaker
15. The Scientific Day of Basrah Teaching Hospital in Basrah held in October, 2002; Speaker.
16. The 1st Conference of Thi Qar Governorate held in 30-31 October, 2002; Speaker.
17. The 13th Scientific Conference of Baghdad College of Medicine, Feb. 2003; Speaker.
18. The 11th UAE Surgical Conference, Abu-Dhabi, 6-8 October 2003; Speaker. The conference was sponsored by The Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow.
Papers under completion :
1. Internal Biliary Drainage; Sphincteroplasty or Choledochoduodenostomy?
2. The management of hepatic echinococcosis with intrabiliary communication: a study of 54 cases.
3. Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy after total gastrectomy for gastric malignancy.
4. Midline Internal Sphincterotomy for Chronic Anal Fissure; a Study of 120 Cases.
5. Routine 3 Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Furhter Minimizing Access.
6. Routine Electrocauterization of the Cystic Artery Versus Clipping in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; A prospective, Randomized Comparative Study.
Contact Addresses: Telephone(s) +964 40 319542 (Residence)
+064 40 612641 (Clinic)
+964 7801404285 (Mobile)
008821666603521 (Thuraya)
Email= safwanat@yahoo.com
