The sole physician to a 13-man Soviet team of researchers at isolated Novolazarevskaya Station in Antarctica, Dr. Leonid Ivanovich Rogozov (1934 to 2000) diagnosed his own appendicitis in late April of 1961. Using a mirror and syringefuls of 0.5% Novocaine (procaine), Rogozov performed self-surgery under a supplemented field block on May Day, successfully removing his appendix. His surgical feat made headlines worldwide and was even memorialized “12/10/61” by Thai artist Artchan Artthex (lower left). Titled “Dr. Leonid Rogozov” (upper left), this graphite-on-paper features a rear view of the surgically gowned Rogozov with the peaks of Antarctica in the background (right). (Copyright © the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology.)
The sole physician to a 13-man Soviet team of researchers at isolated Novolazarevskaya Station in Antarctica, Dr. Leonid Ivanovich Rogozov (1934 to 2000) diagnosed his own appendicitis in late April of 1961. Using a mirror and syringefuls of 0.5% Novocaine (procaine), Rogozov performed self-surgery under a supplemented field block on May Day, successfully removing his appendix. His surgical feat made headlines worldwide and was even memorialized “12/10/61” by Thai artist Artchan Artthex (lower left). Titled “Dr. Leonid Rogozov” (upper left), this graphite-on-paper features a rear view of the surgically gowned Rogozov with the peaks of Antarctica in the background (right). (Copyright © the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology.)
George S. Bause, M.D., M.P.H., Honorary Curator and Laureate of the History of Anesthesia, Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology, Schaumburg, Illinois, and Clinical Associate Professor, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. UJYC@aol.com.
