Raoul Palmer, Date of Birth, Date of Death
TweetRaoul Palmer
French gynaecologist and early figure in laparoscopy
Date of Birth: 
About Raoul Palmer
- Raoul Albert Charles Palmer FRGOC (29 August 1904, Paris – 5 July 1985), known as A.C.
- Palmer, was a French gynecologist and pioneer in gynecologic laparoscopy.Palmer was born in Paris.
- His parents, Fritjof Palmer and Signe, née Garling, were from Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Palmer was trained as a gynecologist and became the head of the gynecological research at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris in 1934.
- His experiments with intra-abdominal endoscopy started during World War II in Paris, and in his work he was supported by his wife Elisabeth.
- Using initially a cystoscope he observed the female genital organs via the transabdominal and transvaginal approach and realized that the former required a controlled pneumoperitoneum during the procedure.
- He developed instruments for his procedures and established safe criteria for insufflation using CO2 in lieu of oxygen via the Veress needle.
- Use of the Trendelenburg position and mobilizing the uterus by a transvaginal cannula were introduced by Palmer.
- In his first report he described his experience with 250 “coelioscopies gynecologiques” using both the transabdominal and the transvaginal approach.
- Palmer noted the advantages of the transabdominal approach.
- In 1949, he described the regular rhythmic contractions of uterus felt as early as 6–8 weeks, now known as the "Palmer's Sign".
- Procedures were performed at Hospital Broca first under local anesthesia; in 1952 Palmer switched to general anesthesia.
- New illumination techniques using quartz rods became available in 1952 greatly improving the laparoscopic image.
- In 1961 Palmer was the first to retrieve a human oocyte form a patient via laparoscopy.
- In 1962 Palmer performed laparoscopic tubal coagulations and other interventions.Palmer and his wife traveled extensively teaching and influencing many gynecologists throughout the world about the use and potential of laparoscopy.
- Others came to visit them at their hospital in Paris.
- Laparoscopic pioneers influenced by Palmer include Melvin Cohen, Hans Frangenheim, Richard Fikentscher, Kurt Semm, and Patrick Steptoe.
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