Who is leonid rogozov

Equipment used in the operation was normal, performed in the semi-sitting position. The operation was carried out under local anesthesia.

Assisting the doctor doctor was the Meteorologist and Chief Engineer Mechanic. On 7 May the patient was satisfied and removed the stitches. Alex Zaitsev told me that a similar surgery happened another time, although he didn't have any information. But later, during the season, someone from his laboratory had an appendectomy during a traverse between Mirny and Dome C Thanks, Ross!

The photos you see here of Dr. Leonid Rogozov during the operation were provided courtesy of his son, Dr. Vladislav Rogozov. The long version of the gory story of the operation later appeared in the British Medical Journal in December this is behind a paywall --it is referenced in this March Atlantic Monthly article , which is available.

That photo of the exhibit in the St. In April, the year-old Rogozov began to feel ill, very ill. His symptoms were classic: He had acute appendicitis.

Transportation was impossible. Flying was out of the question, because of the snowstorms. And there was one further problem: he was the only physician on the base.

The pain was intolerable and he knew he was getting worse. He recorded his thoughts in his journal:. I did not sleep at all last night. It hurts like the devil! A snowstorm whipping through my soul, wailing like a hundred jackals. Operating mostly by feeling around, Rogozov worked for an hour and 45 minutes, cutting himself open and removing the appendix. He recalled the operation in a journal entry:.

Flying was out of the question, because of the snowstorms. Rogozov wrote in his diary:. I am keeping quiet about it, even smiling. Why frighten my friends? Who could be of help? Leonid Rogozov lying down talking to his friend Yuri Vereschagin at Novolazarevskaya.

It hurts like the devil! A snowstorm whipping through my soul, wailing like a hundred jackals. Rogozov had no option but to perform the operation on himself. The operation started at local time on the first day of May with the help of a driver and meteorologist, who were providing instruments and holding a mirror to observe areas not directly visible, while Rogozov was in a semi-reclining position, half-turned to his left side. After minutes, Rogozov started to take short breaks because of general weakness and vertigo.

Finally, he removed the severely affected appendix. He applied antibiotics in the peritoneal cavity and closed the wound. The operation itself lasted an hour and 45 minutes. Partway through, the helping team took photographs of the operation.