Sara Hammad
In the sixth Soviet Antarctic expedition 1960, a team of 12 men had been sent to build a new Antarctic polar base at Schirmacher Oasis. On finishing their mission, it was polar winter time bringing snowstorms and extreme frosts.
The sea had frozen, sailing and flying was out of the question and contact with the outside world was impossible. They only had themselves to rely on throughout the winter.
Weeks later, Leonid Rogozov, 27-year-old Russian surgeon and the only physician on board, felt weak and nauseous with pain in the right lower quadrant of his abdomen. His body temperature rose to 37.5°C. As a surgeon, Rogozov could easily diagnose himself with Acute Appendicitis.
So for him to survive, he must undergo appendectomy. Ooh! It is a Hopeless case. He is the only physician on board and transportation had stopped. There is no hope of outside help.
Leonid was getting worse, vomiting became more frequent, his temperature rose even more in spite of local cooling and antibiotic administration. "This is it. I have to think through the only possible way out: to operate on myself. It’s almost
impossible but I can’t just fold my arms and give up." Said Rogozov.
It is the least he could do, he is running out of choices and his life is on the line. He nominated two main assistants to help him, meteorologist Alexandr Artemev and the mechanic Zinovy Teplinsky.
Following Rogozov’s instructions, the team members assembled an operation theatre out of leonid's room, moved everything out leaving only his bed, two tables, and a table lamp.
Rogozov explained how the operation would proceed and told each member what exactly to do. Artemev would hand him instruments, Teplinsky would hold the mirror and adjust the lighting with the table lamp. He was so systematic and even told them what to do if he lost consciousness - how to inject him with adrenalin and perform artificial ventilation.
Then he gave Artemev and Teplinsky a surgical wash himself, disinfected their hands to put on rubber gloves. When the preparations were complete Rogozov positioned himself in a semi-reclining position, with his right hip slightly elevated and the lower half
of his body elevated at an angle of 30°.
Then he sterilized the operating area and his bed. He needed his sense of touch to guide him so decided to work without gloves. The operation began at 2 am, a general anaesthetic was out of the question. He was able to administer a local anaesthetic to his abdominal wall.
Then, he made a 10-12 cm incision. The visibility of the depth of the wound was not ideal so he sometimes raised his head to get a better view or to use the mirror.
Rogozov started to experience general weakness and vertigo, but finally he managed to remove the affected appendix. He applied antibiotics in the peritoneal cavity and closed the wound. The whole operation lasted 2 hours.
By the end, Rogozov was very pale and obviously tired, but he finished everything off then laid down for a rest. The next day leonid temperature was 38.1°C but overall he felt better. He continued taking antibiotics. Four days later, he completely recovered, signs of peritonitis disappeared and his temperature was normal.
"I was scared but when I picked up the needle with the novocaine and gave myself the first injection, somehow I automatically switched into operating mode. I worked without gloves. It was hard to see. The mirror helps, but it also hinders after all. I work mainly by touch.The bleeding is quite heavy, but I take my time." said leonid Rogozov.
He continued saying "Opening the peritoneum, I injured the blind gut and had to sew it up. I grow weaker and weaker, my head starts to spin. Every 4-5 minutes I rest for 20-25 seconds. Finally, here it is, the cursed appendage! With horror I notice the dark stain at its base. That means just a day longer and it would have burst."
When asked about the surgery he performed on himself, Dr. Rogozov simply smiled and responded: “A job like any other, a life like any other.”
Rogozov’s self operation was a distinctive act taken out of hospital settings, with no possibility of outside help, and without any other medical professional around. What a great example of determination and the human will for life!
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