Nils Kock

Nils G. Kock (January 29, 1924 – August 24, 2011) was a professor of surgery who taught and practiced at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. Kock was noted for his research, experimentation, and colorectal surgical techniques. These led to his breakthrough development of the Kock pouch, used for people who require excretory stomas.

Personal life and education Kock was born in Jakobstad, Finland in 1924. Following military service in the Finnish Army during World War II, he attended the University of Helsinki Medical School, and graduated in 1951. He immediately began his surgical residency there. Later, Kock spent five years in surgical training at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, an institution he remained affiliated with for the rest of his professional career. While there, in 1959, Kock obtained his PhD and subsequently assumed the position of assistant professor of Surgery. He later became chairman of the medical department of Sahlgren Hospital.

Career In the course of his medical career, Kock published over 300 papers. His work culminated with the initial development of the continent ileostomy procedure, which became known as the Kock pouch. For the very first time, a patient with an ileostomy could have complete control over the discharge of their intestinal waste.

Kock pouch procedure The Kock pouch procedure substantially improved the quality of life for patients, especially when the surgery resulted in a well-functioning Kock pouch for fecal diversion.

An ongoing problem with the Kock procedure had been its inability to maintain the drainage valve (or stoma) in the proper position, even with the inclusion of the nipple. The failure rate was 25-40%. Much of Kock's work in the 1970s concentrated on ways to stabilize the valve.

Later in his career, Kock became a visiting lecturer worldwide in order to educate and advance the use of his urostomy surgical technique into Third World nations where bilharzial disease was prevalent. from the medical department of the University of Mansoura (which at the time was a branch of Cairo University). He focused on perfecting his procedure and educating others in the use of his life-improving surgical techniques.

Kock died August 24, 2011, at his residence in Gothenburg, Sweden.