Advancements in Surgery
Heart Surgery
Dr.Dwight Harken, a U.S. army surgeon during World War II, was one of the first doctors to
test procedures on the human heart. Many times time during the war, soldiers
would get fragments and bullets plunged into their hearts. Dr. Harken wanted to
find a way to remove an object from the heart by placing a finger inside the
chest cavity, locating the object and removing it from the heart with the heart
still beating. Before Dr.Harken tried his technique on humans, he used animals as test subjects.
After a lot of trial and error, Dr. Harken was ready to try his technique on humans. When Dr. Harken operated on soldiers with impaled hearts, all of them survived. Because Dr. Harken's technique was very successful, surgeons started to use his technique all around the world.
Dr.Dwight Harken, a U.S. army surgeon during World War II, was one of the first doctors to
test procedures on the human heart. Many times time during the war, soldiers
would get fragments and bullets plunged into their hearts. Dr. Harken wanted to
find a way to remove an object from the heart by placing a finger inside the
chest cavity, locating the object and removing it from the heart with the heart
still beating. Before Dr.Harken tried his technique on humans, he used animals as test subjects.
After a lot of trial and error, Dr. Harken was ready to try his technique on humans. When Dr. Harken operated on soldiers with impaled hearts, all of them survived. Because Dr. Harken's technique was very successful, surgeons started to use his technique all around the world.
Neurosurgery
During World War II, neurosurgery became a specialty thanks to Hugh Cairns. Hugh Cairns
was an Oxford Professor and was in the Royal Army Medical Corp. Cairns designed
mobile neurosurgical units that treated different kinds of head traumas during
battle. There were three main people inside the units; neurosurgeons, plastic
surgeons, and ophthalmic surgeons. Cairns also created the Combined Services
Hospital for Head Injuries at Oxford. This hospital consisted of trained personnel who
knew how to efficiently treat head injuries.
During World War II, neurosurgery became a specialty thanks to Hugh Cairns. Hugh Cairns
was an Oxford Professor and was in the Royal Army Medical Corp. Cairns designed
mobile neurosurgical units that treated different kinds of head traumas during
battle. There were three main people inside the units; neurosurgeons, plastic
surgeons, and ophthalmic surgeons. Cairns also created the Combined Services
Hospital for Head Injuries at Oxford. This hospital consisted of trained personnel who
knew how to efficiently treat head injuries.
Hand Surgery
Hand surgery was not only born during World War II but became a major specialty.
During World War II many soldiers got major hand wounds that need specialized
care. The doctors that cared for the wounds needed to be an expert in orthopedic
surgery, plastic surgery, and neurosurgery. The doctors who were involved in
discovering hand surgery knew that reconstructing hands was easily done and that
hands that were severely damaged were worth being spared.
Hand surgery was not only born during World War II but became a major specialty.
During World War II many soldiers got major hand wounds that need specialized
care. The doctors that cared for the wounds needed to be an expert in orthopedic
surgery, plastic surgery, and neurosurgery. The doctors who were involved in
discovering hand surgery knew that reconstructing hands was easily done and that
hands that were severely damaged were worth being spared.