[100 years of Braun anastomosis].

Although in his time a well-known and high esteemed surgeon, the data of Heinrich Braun's life are nearly forgotten, but his (now 100 year old) description of enteroanastomosis as a routine addition to gastroenterostomia made his name immortal. The author himself was not too enthusiastic about his idea, because he applied the new technique only to a few patients suffering from inoperable cancer. Apparently he never thought of the possibility nor expected the great success of the combination with the Billroth II operation as it is practised nowadays.