Usually, when researchers go on long journeys, a doctor is with them to provide assistance if necessary. So, one of the participants of the Antarctic expedition in 1961 suddenly had a stomach ache on the right side, fever and vomiting. There was no doubt it was appendicitis. But, ironically, it was the surgeon who became the patient who usually monitored the health of his wards. He found the only way out of this situation - he operated on himself.
On the evening of April 29, surgeon Leonid I. Rogozov, who was on an Antarctic expedition, discovered all the signs of appendicitis. He tried to relieve pain symptoms by resting, antibiotics, applying cold, but nothing helped. The ensuing bad weather made it impossible to transport it to the desired Novolazarevskaya station. Without much hesitation, Leonid made a strong-willed decision: to operate on himself.
His assistants were a meteorologist, mechanic and station master, who had no idea of operations. Leonid Rogozov quickly instructed each of them and even tried to cheer up his comrades, whose eyes widened in horror.
The surgeon performed the operation without gloves. I had to do everything by touch, because in the mirror held by the mechanic, everything was reflected the other way around. The operation lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes. Within half an hour after its start, the doctor began to rest every 4-5 minutes. Leonid forbade himself to think about what would happen if he did not cope, and continued to work.
The surgeon did everything clearly: cut out the appendix, injected with an antibiotic and stitched up the incision. A few days later, the temperature dropped, the young doctor felt better and removed the stitches. This case was the only one in medical practice when a person cut out appendicitis for himself.
The case with Leonid Rogozov can be called a medical feat. There are many names left in the history of the Soviet Union whose deeds can be called exploits. One of them Georgy Sinyakov is a doctor who saved the lives of thousands of Nazi concentration camp prisoners.
