First Successful Open-Heart Surgery Utilizing Cross-Circulation in 1954.

A pioneering surgeon at the University of Minnesota, Dr C. Walton Lillehei, is still considered the "father of open-heart surgery". Dr Lillehei and his surgical team performed the first open-heart operations utilizing cross-circulation, including the first successful ventricular septal defect closure on a 3-year-old boy. Before his death at age 67, this patient arranged to donate his body to the University of Minnesota's Anatomy Bequest program. We describe this patient's medical history, and present unique images of internal/external cardiac anatomies and implanted devices obtained via direct visualizations, computed tomography, and fluoroscopy post-mortem. Additionally, we present computational models and 3-dimensional printed models.

Overview: history, anatomy, timing, and results of complete atrioventricular canal.

The past 50 years have been marked by major advances in the care of children with complete atrioventricular canal defects. There have been important contributions from surgeons, cardiologists, and pathologists to provide us with our current understanding of the anatomy of atrioventricular canal defects and excellent surgical outcomes. In this monograph we will discuss the surgical contributions of Lillehei, Kirklin, McGoon, Maloney, Trusler, Wilcox, and Nunn. The improvements in outcomes achieved by these surgeons were made possible by the pathology and anatomy clarifications provided by Lev, Rastelli, and Anderson.

Maladie du Roger 1879: a new translation for the centenary.

A new translation of Roger's description of the clinical and anatomical findings in uncomplicated small VSD is presented. Reappraisal of Roger's observations in the light of our present understanding confirms that only our attitudes change; diseases remain the same.