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Gabor Bela Racz
Gabor Racz in 2010
Born	1937 (age 86–87) Budapest, Hungary
Education	Semmelweis University Medical School University of Liverpool, M.B., Ch.B
Spouse	Enid Racz
Children	4
Medical career
Profession	Professor anesthesiologist pain management physician
Field	Anesthesiology pain management pharmacology emergency & critical care
Institutions	Messer-Racz International Pain Center
Sub-specialties	Interventional pain management CRPS RSDS
Research	Chronic complex pain, including cancer pain

Gabor Bela Racz (born 1937) is a board certified anesthesiologist and professor at Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC) in Lubbock, Texas, where he is also Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Anesthesiology and Co-Director of Pain Services. He has pioneered procedures and designs in medical equipment and devices for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic back pain, as well as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS). He designed the Racz Catheter, and pioneered what became known as the Racz procedure which has been recognized internationally as an advancement in lysis of adhesions, a procedure used to reduce pain and inflammation involving passage of a catheter endoscopically or percutaneously under fluoroscopic guidance into the epidural space of the spine to break up adhesions from around entrapped nerves. Racz is a Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) and a founding member and past president of World Institute of Pain.

College and early medical training

Gábor Béla Rácz was born in Budapest, Hungary. He attended Semmelweis University Medical School in 1956 at the time of the Hungarian Revolution against Soviet occupation. In November 1956, a young Racz and his wife, Enid, fled Budapest with his sister and her husband at a time when hundreds of thousands of Hungarian refugees fled the country in fear of Soviet reprisal, taking nothing but the clothes on their backs. Racz fled to London, England, and in 1957 was able to attend second-year medical school with help from Betty and Ian McWhinney, M.D. In 1962, Racz graduated from the University of Liverpool School of Medicine, having earned his Bachelor of Medicine (M.B.) and Bachelor of Surgery (Ch.B) degrees, and served as house surgeon and physician at the Royal Southern Hospital in Liverpool. In 1963, he moved to the United States for an anesthesiology residency at State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, where he worked in numerous positions, including associate attending anesthesiologist and respiratory consultant in the neurological head injury unit. He also served as a consultant for the Veterans Administration Hospital, and the UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich, New York.

Career at Texas Tech

In 1977, Racz was recruited to become first chairman of Anesthesiology at the then-new Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and held that position until March 1, 1999. His attention focused on the treatment of patients, and as director of pain services, on the expansion of operations and future development of an international pain center. He also served as Director of Pain Services from 1977 to 2006. His title was changed to Co-Director when Mark Boswell MD PhD joined the department as Interim Department Chairman and Director of the new Messer-Racz Pain Center. According to Texas Tech Today, the center was named for Gene and Carlene Messer, who made a generous donation to the project, and for Gabor B. Racz.

In December 1998, the University Medical Center named him to a $1 million endowed chair in recognition of his "greatness in patient care, teaching and research" at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and University Medical Center. In 1996, he was the first recipient of Texas Tech's highest award, the Grover E. Murray Professorship in 1996.

Racz's work with nerve stimulators, spinal cord stimulators, radiofrequency thermocoagulation, and a wide range of other pain management procedures are being used in interventional pain practices throughout the world. He pioneered new designs in medical equipment and devices.

Developments in the lysis of adhesions technique by Racz and his colleagues resulted in the treatment of many patients suffering from failed back and neck surgery and spinal stenosis without the need for additional surgery. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were also created for this procedure.

The New York/New Jersey Societies of Interventional Pain Physicans awarded Racz a lifetime achievement award in October, 2012.

Racz Catheter procedure

In 1982, Racz pioneered what became known as the Racz Catheter procedure for lysis of adhesions from around entrapped nerves in the epidural space of the spine, or epidural adhesiolysis. Candidates for this procedure are usually patients who have developed scar tissue after a previous back surgery, or are suffering severe acute pain of protruding or herniated disks, or other severe degeneration process affecting the lower back. Scar tissue pressing upon spinal nerves can cause radiating pain through the legs as well as debilitating lower back pain. For some patients with protruding or herniated disks, the Racz procedure may eliminate the need for major surgical procedures.

Racz designed and patented the Racz Catheter, a flexible, spring-wound catheter with a small fluoroscopic probe. The procedure is minimally invasive, and performed while the patient is under general anesthetic or conscious sedation. During the procedure, the Racz Catheter is introduced into the epidural space of the spine, either endoscopically or percutaneously, and is manipulated in a such a way as to mechanically break down some of the scar tissue around entrapped nerves so medications can reach the affected areas, and reduce inflammation and pain.

Complex regional pain syndrome

Chronic neurological syndrome is one form of CRPS which Racz has treated using a specific nerve block procedure he developed called a "long-lasting stellate ganglion block" (STGB). The procedure involves injecting a 3% phenol solution into the 7th cervical (C7) vertebra in the neck region using fluoroscopic guidance. A 2010 clinical investigation concluded "STGB using local anesthetic with an adjuvant ketamine is a safe and effective techinique" as it maintains circulation while enhancing the relief of pain and ischaemia in patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD). During an interview, Racz said "It is not a procedure that should be attempted by anybody who is not trained in the specific technique".

Recognitions and certifications

Racz career was devoted to promoting high standards of certification and training among pain physicians. He is a lifetime member of the American Society of Pain Physicians; a board emeritus member and faculty member. He is a founder and charter member of the World Institute of Pain, and served a 3 year term as president beginning in 2005. He is a charter member of the National Pain Foundation, and presided over the 4th WIP World Congress in Budapest, Hungary; an event that was held in September 2007, and attended by 1,800 physicians from 72 countries. Racz also holds certificates of Diplomat with the American College of Pain Management, the American Board of Anesthesiology, the American Board of Pain Medicine, Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice and the American Board of Interventional Pain Practice (ABIPP) certifications by ASIPP and WIP. In September 2004, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP). In July 2006 he received the Moricca Award, the highest award presented by the Italian Pain Society.

His techniques in spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation, radio frequency thermocoagulation, neurolysis and other interventional procedures used in pain management have been described in numerous books and published journal articles.

References

1. "Open Science Open Minds". InTech Open Access Publisher. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
2. ^ "Memories of escape from Hungary still burn bright". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. November 5, 2006. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
3. "Soviets Put Brutal End To Hungarian Revolution". This Day In History - November 4th. The History Channel. 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
4. "The Hungarian Uprising of 1956". HistoryLearningSite.co.uk. 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
5. Racz, Gabor B. (1989). Techniques of Neurolysis. Vol. Current Management of Pain, Vol. 4. Springer U.S. p. Acknowledgement. ISBN 978-1-4899-6723-7.
6. ^ "Gabor B. Racz, MD, ABIPP, FIPP, Grover Murray Professor" (PDF). Kenes. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
7. "Author Details for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome". Intech. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
8. ^ "Development-New Facility to Expand Research and Treatment for Pain". Texas Tech Today. p. Vol 1, pg 4. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
9. John Davis (June 13, 2005). "TTUHSC Breaks New Ground with International Pain Center". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
10. ^ Paula Brashear (March 31, 2008). "CURRICULUM VITAE Gabor B. Racz, M.D. Ch.B. DABPM, FIPP". TTUHSC International Pain Institute. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
11. Interventional Pain Management: Image-Guided Procedures. Saunders. 2008. ISBN 978-1-4160-3844-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
12. "Intractable Pain Therapy Using a New Epidural Catheter". Journal of the American Medical Association. August 6, 1982. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
13. T. Matsumoto (2014). "Racz Spring Guide Catheter Epidural Lysis of Adhesions and Percutaneous Neuroplasty". Masui. 63 (7): 766–774. PMID 25098135. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
14. ^ Dong Eon Moon, Hue Jung Park, and Young Hoon Kim (2015). "Assessment of Clinical Outcomes of Cervical Epidural Neuroplasty Using a Racz-Catheter and Predictive Factors of Efficacy in Patients with Cervical Spinal Pain". Pain Physician. 18 (2): 163–70. PMID 25794215. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
15. Michael J. Cousins, Phillip O. Bridenbaugh (1988). Neural Blockade in Clinical Anesthesia and Management of Pain. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 1030. ISBN 978-0139075445.
16. Kalpana R. Kulkarni, Anita I. Kadam, Ismile J. Namazi (2010). "Efficacy of Stellate Ganglion Block with an Adjuvant Ketamine for Peripheral Vascular Disease of the Upper Limbs" (PDF). Indian Journal of Anesthesia. 54 (6): 546–551. doi:10.4103/0019-5049.72645. PMID 21224973. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
17. Ola T. Abdel Dayem, Mostafa M. Saeid, Olfat M. Ismail, Adel M. El Badrawy, and Nevert A. Abdel Ghaffar (2014). "Ultrasound Guided Stellate Ganglion Block in Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A Comparison of Ketamine versus Morphine as Adjuvant to Bupivacaine". Journal of Anesthesiology. 2014: 6. doi:10.1155/2014/792569.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
18. John Davis (November 10, 2005). "Procedure uses phenol, Botox to help restore normalcy to patients - Putting a stop to pain". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
19. Hord, Allen H. and Wang, Linda H. (2002). Practical Pain Management. Lippencott, Williams, & Wilkins. pp. 513–514. ISBN 9780781731607.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
20. "Gabor B. Racz, MD, FIPP, DABIPP". World Institute of Pain. Retrieved April 4, 2014.

Books

• Racz G., 1985: Capnography In The Operating Room: An Introductory Directory. by May, Wr., J. E. Heavner, D. Mcwhorter And G. Racz. Vi 58p. Raven Press Books, Ltd: New York, N.Y., Usa. Illus. Paper. Vi 58p
• Racz, Gabor B. 1989 Techniques of Neurolysis Gabor Racz (Ed.), ISBN 978-1-4899-6723-7 (Print) 978-1-4899-6721-3 (Online), Current Management of Pain, Vol. 4, Springer U.S.
• Racz, Gabor B., (Ed.), (2012) Epidural Lysis of Adhesions and Percutaneous Neuroplasty, Pain Management - Current Issues and Opinions, by Gabor B. Racz, Miles R. Day, James E. Heavner, Jeffrey P. Smith, Jared Scott, Carl E. Noe, Laslo Nagy and Hana Ilner. ISBN 978-953-307-813-7, InTech, DOI: 10.5772/39173.

Template:Persondata

• Living people
• American people of Hungarian descent
• Hungarian refugees
• Hungarian physicians
• American anesthesiologists
• American physicians
• American medical researchers
• Hungarian medical researchers
• People from Budapest
• 1937 births