There are few surgical interventions more dramatic than the thoracotomy - a desperate last-ditch effort to save a failing heart by manual compression. The history of the procedure is a fascinating one, dating back to the 19th century. This became the procedure of choice when a heart stopped, typically during surgery, but was eventually replaced by what we now call CPR. The history of the development of CPR is also covered, and of course, we'll take some interesting tangents. 

Episode 79 - Cracking the Chest: The Brief History of Resuscitative Thoracotomy

This podcast takes an entertaining and informative approach to telling the stories of the people and events that make up the history of modern surgery.

Medicine

Science & Medicine

Health & Fitness

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!

Episode 113 - Better know an instrument: Potts Scissors

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!

Episode 112 - The Ongoing History of Surgery: The World's First Whole Eye Transplant

In this episode, we will explore the history of a nearly 4 millenia old slab of rock which has inscribed on it some of the oldest recorded laws in history, including some that dictated payments for operations, and some severe punishments for malpractice! Along the way, we'll also delve into the world of Babylonian medicine, discover the history of the caduceus, and, as a special bonus, cover a recent Nobel prize which has implications for surgery in an all new suture tale. 

Episode 111 - The Code of Hammurabi

In this episode, we will explore the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, as well as the surgeon behind a famous photograph of the beast, Robert Kenneth Wilson, a legend in his own right. And of course, we'll go on our usual tangents and side stories along the way!

Episode 110 - The Loch Ness Monster and The Surgeon's Photo

In this episode, we will explore the question of the identity of the 19th century serial killer based in the London neighborhood of Whitechapel. Specifically, we will consider the evidence provided by some authors that the notorious killer was a Welsh-born surgeon named Sir John Williams. And of course, there will be a bit of interesting trivia along the way!

Episode 79 - Cracking the Chest: The Brief History of Resuscitative Thoracotomy

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