The Father of Heart Transplantation Vladimir P. Demikhov

The Father of Heart Transplantation Vladimir P. Demikhov

Authors

  • Mikhail GL Oppedisano Department of Human Anatomy, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
  • Linard Yu Artyukh Department of Human Anatomy, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
  • Natalya R Karelina Department of Human Anatomy, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Keywords:

Vladimir Demikhov, heart transplantation, life’s work, Christiaan Barnard, forgotten personalities.

Abstract

The article discusses the life’s work of the great Soviet scientist in the fields of transplantology, physiology and experimental surgery Vladimir Demikhov. He was the first to ever perform a heart and a cardiopulmonary system transplantation, as well as transplantation of other vital organs. He was also the first to perform head transplantation on a dog. Demikhov should have become a legend of Soviet medicine but did not find support from the government and ministers of health in particular, and was undeservingly forgotten. The following article is an attempt to give tribute to the memory of this great man, whose mind and thinking were ahead of their time by decades or maybe century.

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Published

19-04-2021

Issue

Section

Original articles: History of Medicine

How to Cite

1.
Oppedisano MG, Artyukh LY, Karelina NR. The Father of Heart Transplantation Vladimir P. Demikhov. Med Histor [Internet]. 2021 Apr. 19 [cited 2025 Mar. 16];5(1):e2021004. Available from: https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/MedHistor/article/view/9572