Legends of Surgery

In this episode, we will cover Gavriil Ilizarov, the Soviet surgeon who created what is now known as the Ilizarov Apparatus, which is used to heal complex bone fractures and lengthen limbs. We'll discuss his life story, how he made his discovery, and its spread beyond the USSR. Along the way, we'll find out where the term 'quack' comes from, the origin of the word 'orthopaedics', and much more!

In this episode, we will talk about the Fowler position in surgery, its current and historical uses, the person behind the name, and the legend of its development. Along the way, we'll cover the origins of the Red Cross and Geneva Convention, the discovery of the pancreatic duct, and more. Enjoy!

In this episode, we'll explore the history of the Pernkopf Atlas, an anatomy text used by surgeons and pathologists worldwide, as well as the life of it's creator, Eduard Pernkopf. He was a professor at the University of Vienna and avowed Nazi, and this link has made the use of his atlas controversial. We'll consider it's value to the medical world, and the ethics of it's use, both for and against, and learn of the history of it's creation. Warning: this episode does cover topics including the Holocaust that may be upsetting to some listeners.

In this episode, we'll meet the person behind the eponymously named scissors, the American pediatric surgeon Willis J. Potts. We'll cover his contributions to the development of surgery specifically for children, and in particular the operations on the heart that he pioneered. There is also some trivia, and a new feature on etymology, so enjoy!

In this episode, we will cover the recent story of (possibly) the world's first whole eye transplant that occured in May of 2023, as well as the story of a possible previous attempt in 1969, and the aftermath that followed. The show also has a new feature - trivia! And, we will explore the medical origins of the word 'bedlam'. Enjoy!