In this episode, we’ll explore the challenges of medieval surgery, including the absence of anaesthetics, understanding of infection, and blood loss management. Common procedures, such as bloodletting, amputation, and cauterisation, were often performed by barber surgeons with limited training. Despite these hurdles, key figures advanced surgical knowledge: Albucasis documented practices, Hugh of Lucca questioned infection theories, Mondino de Luzzi promoted anatomical study, and John of Arderne improved pain management and surgical organisation. Their contributions helped shape surgical practices during a time of low survival rates.

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