Overcoming Obstacles: The Legacy of Fidel Pagés, Founder of the Epidural, 100 Years After His Passing.

Fidel Pagés, a Spanish surgeon, tragically died in 1923 at the age of 37, just 2 years after his publication "Anestesia Metamérica," the first description of human thoracolumbar epidural anesthesia. In the intervening 100 years, epidural anesthesia has faced countless obstacles, starting with the dissemination of his initial report, which was not widely read nor appreciated at the time. However, the merits of the technique have fueled innovations to meet these challenges over the years. Even today, while epidural anesthesia is widely embraced, particularly in obstetric and chronic pain medicine, the pressures of the operating room for efficiency and a low tolerance for failure, pose modern-day challenges. Here, we revisit Pagés' original report and highlight the key innovations that have allowed for the evolution of this essential anesthesia technique.

Francisco Javier Muñiz. Cirujano de guerra / Francisco Javier Muñiz. War Surgeon

Francisco Javier Muñiz nació en Monte Grande en 1795 y se graduó de médico en la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Buenos Aires en 1822. Además de la medicina y la paleontología, Muñiz se desempeñó como cirujano de guerra en la guerra con el Brasil y en la guerra de la Triple Alianza. En 1871, encontrándose jubilado, se ofrece como voluntario en la lucha contra la epidemia de fiebre amarilla que asoló a la ciudad de Buenos Aires provocando 14.467 muertos. Muñiz falleció el 8 de abril de 1871 en cumplimiento del deber, contagiado de fiebre amarilla. Médico, periodista, paleontólogo, descubridor de la vacuna nativa contra la viruela y realizador de apuntes de lingüística, Francisco Javier Muñiz, representa uno de los grandes ejemplos para la sociedad argentina. (AU)

Francisco Javier Muñiz was born in Monte Grande in 1795 and graduated as a physician from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Buenos Aires in 1822. In addition to medicine and paleontology, Muñiz served as a military surgeon in the War with Brazil and in the War of the Triple Alliance. In 1871, when he was retired, he volunteered to fight the yellow fever epidemic that devastated the city of Buenos Aires, causing 14,467 deaths. Muñiz died in the line of duty on April 8, 1871, infected with yellow fever. Doctor, journalist, paleontologist, discoverer of the native vaccine against smallpox and linguistic note-taker, Francisco Javier Muñiz is one of the great examples for Argentinian society. (AU)

El final del Hospital Rawson y la diáspora finochiettista. A 45 años de estos hechos / The end of the Rawson Hospital and the finochiettista diaspora. 45 years after these events

La Asociación Médica Argentina (AMA) reconoce el valor de la Escuela Quirúrgica de los hermanos Finochietto y por tal motivo efectúa un homenaje anual desde el año 2002. En este artículo se hace una breve reseña histórica del Hospital Rawson, donde se inició y desarrolló dicha escuela. Se resaltan dos hechos: por un lado, el término "diáspora finochiettista", porque la dispersión de los cirujanos fue obligada y tuvieron que abandonar su lugar de procedencia original, el Hospital Rawson y, por el otro, que dicho nosocomio nació y murió como consecuencia de movimientos políticos cívico-militares. (AU)

The Argentine Medical Association (AMA) recognizes the value of the Surgical School of the Finochietto brothers, and for this reason has paid an annual tribute since 2002. Tthis article provides a brief historical review of the Rawson Hospital, where the school was initiated and developed. Two facts are highlighted: on the one hand, the term "Finochiettista diaspora" because the dispersal of the surgeons was forced and they had to leave their original place of origin, the Rawson Hospital; and on the other hand, the fact that this hospital was born and died as a consequence of civil-military political movements. (AU)

Mathilde Schott, A Woman's Influence in the Revolution of the Scalpel in the 1890s.

Surgery relies on the scalpel; the surgeon's first instrument in every case. From early knives crafted in the pre-historic era to today, the scalpel has evolved along with medical and surgical fields but maintained its critical role and symbolism of operative intervention. A significant catalyst for change in surgical instrument development in the late 1800s was the evolution of anesthesia and antisepsis. Surgical instruments were affected by harsh sterilization techniques, creating need for a method to maintain surgical scalpel sharpness. Mathilde Schott, an early female biomedical engineering innovator, filed a patent (US431153) in 1890 for a detachable scalpel blade. Schott identified and responded to the needs of surgeons at the turn of the 20th century and created a detachable blade and stabilizing lever. Schott persevered in a society unaccustomed to women leaders, subsequently improving medicine, surgery, and engineering.

Gertrude Herzfeld: The woman who dared to be a surgeon.

Gertrude Marianne Amalia Herzfeld (1890-1981), the first practicing female surgeon in Scotland, overcame bias against women in medicine and pediatric specialists in surgery. After her graduation from the University of Edinburgh Medical School (1914), she became the first female house surgeon at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh. In 1920, she became the first practicing woman surgeon to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. She left a handful of publications in pediatric surgery: a "radical cure" for inguinal hernia, i.e., early surgery (1925); a review of abdominal surgery in infancy and childhood (1937); surgery for the acute abdomen (1939); and intestinal obstruction (1945). They offer a twenty-year window into how children's surgery was once practiced, when operations were done in patients' homes, and decisions for operation depended solely on the history and physical exam without laboratory testing and radiological imaging. As a series of snapshots over two decades, they reveal how her practice evolved in such areas as fluid resuscitation and radiological reduction of intussusception. She remained steadfast to a careful physical examination and early operation. While she did not document her practice in the care of children with ambiguous genitalia and intersex conditions, she approached the formidable anatomic, psychological, and social challenges of her patients and their families with patience and understanding. Herzfeld was devoted to the care of yet another marginalized population that today is subsumed by the acronym LGBTQIA, yet another area where she was far ahead of her time. Level of evidence: Level VII.

George W. Crile (1864-1943); excepcional cirurgião americano / George W. Crile (1864-1943); excepcional cirujano estadounidense / George W. Crile (1864-1943); exceptional American surgeon

George W. Crile (1864-1943); excepcional cirurgião americano, que serviu no Corpo Médico do Exército durante a Guerra Hispano-Americana. Durante a Primeira Guerra Mundial, foi diretor cirúrgico do American Ambulance Hospital em Neuilly, na França. Ajudou fundar o American College of Surgeons em 1913, foi membro e diretor não apenas dessa organização, mas também da American Medical Association, da American Surgical Association, da Royal Academy of Surgeons e da Royal Academy of Medicine (Reino Unido). Em 1921, foi cofundador da Cleveland Clinic em Cleveland, Ohio, EUA. Foi um importante médico cujas pesquisas e escritos incluíam choque cirúrgico, função glandular, pressão arterial e transfusões, neurose de guerra e os efeitos da cirurgia em tempos de guerra. Ele também foi um cirurgião extraordinário e prolífico que introduziu inovações no tratamento cirúrgico de muitas patologias. Embora sua pesquisa tenha sido publicada há muito tempo, suas contribuições para a medicina continuam sendo fundamentais para a prática clínica nas salas de cirurgia e unidades de terapia intensiva atuais.

George W. Crile (1864-1943) fue un excepcional cirujano estadounidense que sirvió en el Cuerpo Médico del Ejército durante la Guerra Hispanoamericana. Durante la Primera Guerra Mundial fue director quirúrgico del American Ambulance Hospital de Neuilly (Francia). Ayudó a fundar el Colegio Americano de Cirujanos en 1913 y fue miembro y director no sólo de esta organización, sino también de la Asociación Médica Americana, la Asociación Quirúrgica Americana, la Real Academia de Cirujanos y la Real Academia de Medicina (Reino Unido). En 1921 fue cofundador de la Cleveland Clinic de Cleveland (Ohio, EE.UU.). Fue un importante médico cuyas investigaciones y escritos abarcaron el shock quirúrgico, la función glandular, la presión arterial y las transfusiones, la neurosis de guerra y los efectos de la cirugía en tiempos de guerra. También fue un cirujano extraordinario y prolífico que introdujo innovaciones en el tratamiento quirúrgico de muchas patologías. Aunque sus investigaciones se publicaron hace mucho tiempo, sus aportaciones a la medicina siguen siendo fundamentales para la práctica clínica en los quirófanos y unidades de cuidados intensivos actuales.

George W. Crile (1864-1943) was an exceptional American surgeon who served in the Army Medical Corps during the Spanish-American War. During the First World War, he was surgical director of the American Ambulance Hospital in Neuilly, France. He helped found the American College of Surgeons in 1913 and was a member and director not only of this organization, but also of the American Medical Association, the American Surgical Association, the Royal Academy of Surgeons and the Royal Academy of Medicine (UK). In 1921, he co-founded the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was an important physician whose research and writings included surgical shock, glandular function, blood pressure and transfusions, war neurosis and the effects of wartime surgery. He was also an extraordinary and prolific surgeon who introduced innovations in the surgical treatment of many pathologies. Although his research was published long ago, his contributions to medicine remain fundamental to clinical practice in today's operating rooms and intensive care units.

La Sociedad de Cirugía del Uruguay y la escuela quirúrgica francesa: un vínculo centenario / The Society of Surgery of Uruguay and the French surgical school: a centenary bond / A Sociedade de Cirurgia do Uruguai e a escola cirúrgica francesa: um vínculo centenário

La historia de la cirugía y de las escuelas quirúrgicas está construida sobre el conocimiento médico, pero también influenciada por las grandes corrientes de pensamiento políticas, religiosas, culturales e incluso militares de las diferentes épocas. La influencia de la cirugía francesa en la formación de la escuela quirúrgica uruguaya, a lo largo de más de un siglo ha sido determinante para establecer sus bases desde la evidencia clínica, el dominio de la anatomía, la excelencia técnica, un permanente espíritu crítico para impulsar la generación de nuevos conocimientos; todo basado una ética guiada por el máximo respeto por el paciente y su sufrimiento. El presente trabajo, analiza desde la perspectiva de la cirugía general los primeros contactos quirúrgicos durante la Guerra Grande, el inicio de la formación académica de los cirujanos uruguayos en Francia, los aspectos técnicos y las publicaciones relevantes producto de esas experiencias; así como anécdotas y amistades personales e institucionales sobre las que se fue construyendo un sólido modelo de relacionamiento científico especialmente a través de la Sociedad de Cirugía del Uruguay.

The history of surgery and surgical schools were built on the basis of medical knowledge, but also influenced by the great currents of political, religious, cultural and even military thought of the different times. The influence of the French surgical school in the development of surgery in Uruguay, for more than a century, has been decisive in establishing its pillars: clinical evidence, expertise in anatomy, technical excellence, a permanent critical analysis for promote the generation of knowledge; based on ethics principles of respect for the patient and his suffering. The present study analyzes, from the perspective of the general surgery, the first surgical contacts during the first civil war, the beginning of the academic training of Uruguayan surgeons in France, the technical aspects and the relevant publications resulting from these experiences; as well as anecdotes and personal and institutional friendships on which a solid model of scientific relationship was built, especially through the Uruguay Society of Surgery.

A história da cirurgia e das escolas cirúrgicas é construída no saber médico, mas também influenciada pelas grandes correntes do pensamento político,religioso, cultural, e até militar das diferentes épocas.A influência da cirurgia francesa na formação da escola cirúrgica uruguaia, ao longo de mais de um século, foi decisiva para estabelecer suas bases a partir de evidências clínicas, domínio da anatomia, excelência técnica, espírito crítico permanente para promover a geração de novos conhecimentos; tudo baseado em uma ética pautada no máximo respeito pelo paciente e seu sofrimento.O presente trabalho analisa, sob a ótica da cirurgia geral, os primeiros contatos cirúrgicos durante a grande guerra, o início da formação acadêmica dos cirurgiões uruguaios na França, os aspectos técnicos e as publicações relevantes resultantes dessas experiências; assim como anedotas e amizades pessoais e institucionais sobre as quais se construiu um sólido modelo de relacionamento científico, especialmente por meio da Sociedade de Cirurgia do Uruguai

The Social and Emotional World of Twentieth-Century Anglo-American Surgery: The James IV Association of Surgeons.

Founded in 1957 by a group of elite British and American surgeons, the James IV Association of Surgeons is an international organization that "promotes communication among surgeons across the globe." Every year since 1961, the association has funded trips for several "surgical travellers" to encourage "exchange and camaraderie between surgical communities." This article uses the association's archive to explore the social lives, professional identities, and affective experiences of the men and women who populated the "surgical world" of Britain and North America in the mid-twentieth century. Integrating the social history of medicine with emotions history, I argue that the social lives of surgeons were crucial to the development and maintenance of their professional identities and communities by assisting in the definition of what it meant to be a surgeon. This definition was structured not just by surgical skill but by the forms of sociability available to potential participants.

Teniente Coronel Médico Profesor Agregado de Cirugía Edgardo Torterolo Prado (1939 ­ 2003), precursor del trasplante hepático en Uruguay / Lieutenant Colonel Medical Attaché Professor of Surgery Edgardo Torterolo Prado (1939 - 2003), precursor of liver transplantation in Uruguay / Tenente Coronel Médico Adido Professor de Cirurgia Edgardo Torterolo Prado (1939 - 2003), precursor do transplante de fígado no Uruguai

Edgardo Gualberto Torterolo Prado, nació en Montevideo el 20 de diciembre de 1939 y falleció en esa ciudad, en la plenitud de su ejercicio profesional, el 31 de julio de 2003. Fueron sus padres Pío Gualberto Torterolo y María Rosaura Prado. Estaba unido en matrimonio con María Elena Minetti (1966) del cual nació su hijo Pablo Daniel un año después. Su vocación lo dirigió hacia la medicina, ingresando a la Facultad oficial en 1959. Luego de su desempeño como practicante interno del Ministerio de Salud Pública (1964-69) obtuvo el título de médico (1968). Se hizo cirujano y en esa especialidad desarrolló dos carreras paralelas: Facultad de Medicina y Servicio de Sanidad Militar.

Edgardo Gualberto Torterolo Prado was born in Montevideo on December 20, 1939 and died in that city, in the fullness of his professional practice, on July 31, 2003. His parents were Pío Gualberto Torterolo and María Rosaura Prado. He was married to María Elena Minetti (1966) and their son Pablo Daniel was born a year later. His vocation directed him towards medicine, entering the official School of Medicine in 1959. After working as an intern at the Ministry of Public Health (1964-69), he obtained his medical degree (1968). He became a surgeon and in that specialty he developed two parallel careers: Medical School and Military Health Service.

Edgardo Gualberto Torterolo Prado nasceu em Montevidéu em 20 de dezembro de 1939 e morreu em Montevidéu, no auge de sua carreira profissional, em 31 de julho de 2003. Seus pais eram Pío Gualberto Torterolo e María Rosaura Prado. Ele foi casado com María Elena Minetti (1966), com quem seu filho Pablo Daniel nasceu um ano mais tarde. Sua vocação o levou à medicina, e ele entrou na Faculdade oficial em 1959. Após trabalhar como estagiário no Ministério da Saúde Pública (1964-69), ele obteve seu diploma de médico (1968). Ele se tornou cirurgião e nessa especialidade desenvolveu duas carreiras paralelas: Faculdade de Medicina e Serviço de Saúde Militar.

Everything Old is New Again: Applying the Lessons from Halsted's Life and Work to Today's Surgical Landscape.

The name of Dr William Halsted is synonymous with innovation and excellence in surgery. The life of Dr Halsted, although known for both accomplishments and personal challenges, continues to provide valuable insight as to how we, as 21st century surgeons, might best address today's surgical challenges. The following manuscript details some of the ways in which Dr Halsted's life and teachings provide important lessons that remain relevant even today. Few names in surgery are as well-known as that of Dr William Halsted. Halsted is generally regarded as one of the most, if not the most innovative and influential surgeon in history. His life story and his many contributions to the field surgery have been the subject of numerous manuscripts, books, and Presidential addresses. In addition to his many contributions to surgical science, Halsted is credited with the development of the structure of the modern surgical residency program. Now, despite the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of surgery, many of Halsted's teachings remain applicable today. In fact, one could argue that many of the challenges faced in surgery today are due to a departure from these principles as they were originally described. In the following discussion, the teachings of Halsted will be explored and the Halsted philosophy applied to propose solutions for today's modern surgical challenges.