The average American will undergo seven operations during a lifetime.
But surgery has come a long way over the centuries. Here’s a look at
the history of innovation that brought surgery to its current, highly
efficient state:
1730s
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European surgeons claim their own profession, leaving
behind their status as “barber-surgeons.”
1842
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The first patient is anesthetized when a dentist in New York
uses ether for a tooth extraction.
1865
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With a successful procedure on a boy with a compound
leg fracture, Joseph Lister shows that using antiseptic can
prevent infection.
1902
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The first successful surgery in the U.S. on a beating heart
is performed to repair a knife wound. The 13-year-old
patient
survives.
1930s – 1940s
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Antibiotics such as sulfa drugs and penicillin make
surgeries safer.
1952
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The first artificial heart valve is implanted.
1954
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The first bariatric surgery is performed.
w
The
first hip replacement surgery is performed.
Today, 327,000 total hip replacements are done each year.
w
The first successful organ transplant, a kidney, takes place.
The success rate for transplant surgeries will be low until
the 1980s.
1967
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The first heart transplant is performed (in South Africa).
The 53-year-old patient lives for 18 days.
1985
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Minimally invasive surgery advances with the first
gallbladder removal.
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The
first robot-assisted surgery is performed. Today, more
than 200,000 robotic procedures are performed each year.
1990s–2000s
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Many more procedures are done with minimally invasive
and robot-assisted techniques. New technologies turn some
previously difficult surgeries into
outpatient procedures.
w
In 1992, Methodist Health
System performs the first
combined heart-kidney-
pancreas transplant.
TODAY
������������������� At least 50 million surgeries
are done each year in the U.S.,
including more than 2,500
different procedures.
HERE TO HELP
For some extra support and health
tips, check out the Mansfield Diabetes
Education Group at Methodist Mansfield.
Visit
MethodistHealthSystem.org/ DiabetesSupportfor more details.
cookies —
You’ll still want to monitor your
sugars closely, as everyone responds
differently to extra carbs, and stick
to your exercise plan. Perhaps most
important, let food take a backseat
to what the holidays are really about:
friends and family.
Surgery then and now
©2014
Intuitive
Surgical,
Inc.
The da Vinci® Surgical System robot
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
•
❁
Winter 2014 – 2015
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