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. 2009;36(5):453-8.

At the cutting edge of the impossible: a tribute to Vladimir P. Demikhov

Igor E Konstantinov  1
Affiliations

At the cutting edge of the impossible: a tribute to Vladimir P. Demikhov

Igor E Konstantinov. Tex Heart Inst J. 2009.

Abstract

Vladimir P. Demikhov (1916-1998) performed the world's first experimental intrathoracic transplantations and coronary artery bypass operation. His successes heralded the era of modern heart and lung transplantation and the surgical treatment of coronary artery disease. Even though he was one of the greatest experimental surgeons of the 20th century, his international isolation fueled speculation, suppositions, and myths. Ironically, his transplantation of a dog's head drew more publicity than did his pioneering thoracic surgical accomplishments, and he became an easy target for criticism. An account of Demikhov's life and work is presented herein.

Keywords: Cardiac surgical procedures/history/methods; Demikhov V; Russia; USSR; coronary artery bypass; dogs; heart transplantation/history; history of medicine, 20th century; lung transplantation/history; thoracic surgery.

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Figures

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Fig. 1 Vladimir P. Demikhov (1916–1998), upon his admission to the University of Moscow in 1934 (photograph courtesy of Olga V. Demikhova).
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Fig. 2 Vladimir Demikhov (right) with his brother Viacheslav (1913–1970) and sister Julia (1919–), 1946 (photograph courtesy of Olga V. Demikhova).
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Fig. 3 Vladimir Demikhov (standing, 4th from left), Alexander V. Vishnevsky (seated, 4th from left), and their colleagues at the Institute of Surgery in Moscow, 1953 (photograph courtesy of Olga V. Demikhova).
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Fig. 4 Vladimir Demikhov and one of his experimental dogs, in front of his laboratory at the Sechenov Medical Institute in Moscow (photograph courtesy of Olga V. Demikhova).
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Fig. 5 Vladimir Demikhov with his wife Lia and daughter Olga, 1960s (photograph courtesy of Olga V. Demikhova).
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Fig. 6 Experimental dog with two heads (photograph courtesy of Olga V. Demikhova).
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Fig. 7 Vladimir Demikhov performs heart–lung transplantation on 16 December 1958 in Leipzig, Germany (photograph courtesy of Olga V. Demikhova).
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Fig. 8 Christian Cabrol (left) presents the Pioneer Award of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation to Vladimir Demikhov on 25 April 1989 in Munich, Germany (photograph courtesy of Olga V. Demikhova).
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Fig. 9 Vladimir Demikhov with his unpublished monograph revision, January 1998 (photograph courtesy of Olga V. Demikhova).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. van Gogh V. Letter to Theo. 1882 Jul 21 [cited 2009 Aug 4]. Available from: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh
    1. Shumacker HB Jr. A surgeon to remember: notes about Vladimir Demikhov. Ann Thorac Surg 1994;58(4):1196–8. - PubMed
    1. Demikhov VP. Experimental transplantation of vital organs. Basil Haigh, transl. New York: Consultant's Bureau Enterprises, Inc.; 1962.
    1. Demikhov VP. Transplantation of vital organs in experiments [in Russian]. Moscow: Medgiz, 1960.
    1. Cooper DK. Transplantation of the heart and both lungs. I. Historical review. Thorax 1969;24(4):383–90. - PMC - PubMed

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