Zdenek Maratka M.D., D.Sc. †

Professor Emeritus, Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic

Prof. Maraka studied medicine, entered his academic career and became professor of medicine at the Charles University in Prague. He specialized in gastoenterology and complemented his education by a one year fellowship with Dr. A.C. Ivy at the University of Illinois, as well as by repeated visits at the institutes of Dr. Avery Jones in London, Dr. A. Lambling in Paris, Dr. L. Demling in Erlangen and elsewhere.

In 1958 he had to retire from the university for political reasons and accepted the position of head of department of medicine in the City Hospital Bulovka in Prague. Following the political change in 1989 he resumed the post of professor of the Charles University and was elected president of the Czech Society of Gastroenterology.

Even when deprived of academic positions during the communistic regime he could introduce himself into international organisations thanks to his scientific activities. He was President of the European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 1976-1980, President of the European Society for Colo-Proctology 1980-1982, Chairman of the Committee for  Terminology and computerisation of the World Society for Digestive Endoscopy 1978 through 1998. He has been member of the editorial board of international gastrointestinal journals and societies in Europe and USA.

Professor Maratka has published more than 300 scientific papers and 10 Monographs including a treatise of gastroenterology published in several editions. His main scientific interest concentrated on digestive endoscopy, inflammatory bowel diseases and functional gastrointestinal disorders. He gained international reputation by a proposition of standardized endoscopic terminology and system of endoscopic nomenclature representing a comprehensive database of digestive endoscopy. The book „Terminology, definitions and diagnostic criteria in digestive endoscopy” published by Normed Verlag in 1984 and updated in several editions and languages has been used as a base for  special computer programs and information systems.

The present DVD-ROM has been developed on his system of classification of endoscopic findings and was completed by relevant clinical, endosonographic and histopathological informations as well as by video presentations of therapeutic procedures.