1. The History of Surgical Technique
Created by
Jessica Linn and Rebecca Kraft

2. Greek: Cheir = hand + ergon = work
Origins
Surgery
Chirurgery
Latin: Chirurgia
Greek: Cheir = hand + ergon = work

3. Early Methods Trephination Operation performed since the Stone Age
Circular section carved away, leaving a hole in the skull
Done as a treatment for abnormal behaviors, such as hallucinations
Based on perception that evil spirits needed releasing
Picture: Trepanation. (n.d.). encefalus [photo]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from Encefalus website:
Text: Kuhlenschmidt, S. (1996, June). Trephination. In Western Kentucky University. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from

4. Sixth Century
Susruta
Learned surgery and medicine from Divodasa Dhanvantari
Practiced the Indian medical tradition of Ayurveda (Ayurveda means science of life)
Recognized as the father of plastic surgery
First to advocate the cesarean operation
Help to fashion surgical instruments, such as crocodile or hawkbill forceps
Text: Susruta. (n.d.). World Famous Biography. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from google website:

5. Galen Most famous surgeon of Roman times
At 28 was surgeon to a school of gladiators
In 161 AD became surgeon to the Emperor
Dissected many animals to study nerves, muscles and bone structure
His medical books were highly influential for the next 1200 years
Text: History of surgery. (2009). The Operation: Surgery Live - Channel 4 [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from

6. 1100 AD Albucasis Roger Frugardi Born in Spain, part of Islamic empire
Wrote encyclopedia of medicine
Became standard text in Europe
Roger Frugardi
Wrote first Western book on surgery in 1170
Used seaweed patches like the present day iodine therapy
Text: History of surgery. (2009). The Operation: Surgery Live - Channel 4 [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from

7. Medieval Leonardo da Vinci
Dissected corpses and made pencil drawings of his findings
Among the first to contradict Galen
Medical findings were never published and did not impact the field
Text: Medevil Times. (n.d.). Surgery Times. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from history/middle.html

8. Middle Ages War Surgeons Wound Man
Sought new pain medications, such as opium and mandrake, to make sleepy during surgery
Wine was found to help heal wounds (alcohol is a mild antiseptic)
Wound Man
A figure used to show various wounds a person might suffer in battle or accidents
Injuries would range from blows to the head, stab wounds and bites by snakes and insects
Picture: Wound Man. (2006, August 17). Wikipedia [Photo]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from
Text: History of surgery. (2009). The Operation: Surgery Live - Channel 4 [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from

9. Middle Ages Andreas Vesalius Ambrose Pare
Discovered the human anatomy through human dissection
Ambrose Pare
Advocated the use of ligatures to tie of blood vessels
Used mixture of eggs, oils of roses and turpentine to cure gun powder wounds
Text: History of surgery. (2009). The Operation: Surgery Live - Channel 4 [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from

10. Barber Surgeons 17th Century England
Procedures included pulling teeth to amputation
Anesthesia consisted of a knock on the head with a wooden hammer
They would wrap bloody rags around a pole to signify that they were open for business
Text: Medevil Times. (n.d.). Surgery Times. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from history/middle.html

11. Anesthetics
In the 1840s pain was first effectively eliminated during surgery
Ether vapor was used for a patient who had a tumor removed from his neck
Chloroform became a popular choice after Queen Victoria used it in childbirth
Text: History of surgery. (2009). The Operation: Surgery Live - Channel 4 [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from

12. Joseph Lister
The history of surgery maybe divided into two parts, before and after Lister
Described muscles in the eye, as well as muscles attached to hair follicles
Introduced antiseptic techniques
Used carbolic acid to lower infections in wounds
Invented the sinus forceps, aortic tourniquet, wire needle and catgut ligature
Text: History of surgery. (2009). The Operation: Surgery Live - Channel 4 [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from

13. 1800s
1863 Mayo Clinic is founded by William Worell Mayo and is later joined by his two sons in practice
1895 X-rays were discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen
Picture and Text: History of the mayo clinic. (1996). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from

14. Blood
James Blundell had some success in transferring blood directly from donor to recipient in the early 1900s
Karl Landsteiner discovered four different types of blood.
They were later named O, A, B, and AB
By the 1930s blood could be separated into plasma and red blood cells, which could be stored longer
Text: History of surgery. (2009). The Operation: Surgery Live - Channel 4 [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from

15. Mid 1900s
Surgery had become less painful, but many still died from post-op infections
Anti-biotics came about in the 1940s
First antibiotic was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Flemming
Penicillin
Howard Florey successfully extracted pure penicillin from mold juice in large amounts to make it applicable in medicine
Text: History of surgery. (2009). The Operation: Surgery Live - Channel 4 [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from

16. First Heart Transplant
Was done in 1967
By Christiaan Barnard in South Africa
Patient survived operation for 18 days, but died of pneumonia
Barnard’s longest surviving patient lived for 24 years after the surgery
By 1984 heart transplant surgery was almost commonplace
Text: Christiaan Barnard. (n.d.). Encarta. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from encyclopedia_ /Christiaan_Barnard

17. Benjamin Carson
After med school he became a neurosurgery resident at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore
At age 32 became hospital’s Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery
In 1987 he made medical history with an operation to separate a pair of Siamese twins
70 member surgical team
Worked for 22 hours
Text: Benjamin Carson. (2008, June 16). Academy of acheivement [biography]. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from

18. Works Cited
Benjamin Carson. (2008, June 16). Academy of acheivement [biography]. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from
Christiaan Barnard. (n.d.). Encarta. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from encyclopedia_ /Christiaan_Barnard
History of the mayo clinic. (1996). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from
History of surgery. (2009). The Operation: Surgery Live - Channel 4 [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from
Kuhlenschmidt, S. (1996, June). Trephination. In Western Kentucky University. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from
Medevil Times. (n.d.). Surgery Times. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from history/middle.html
Susruta. (n.d.). World Famous Biography. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from google website:
Trepanation. (n.d.). encefalus [photo]. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from Encefalus website: