Medical Terminology Daily (MTD) is a blog sponsored by Clinical Anatomy Associates, Inc. as a service to the medical community. We post anatomical, medical or surgical terms, their meaning and usage, as well as biographical notes on anatomists, surgeons, and researchers through the ages. Be warned that some of the images used depict human anatomical specimens.

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A Moment in History

Andreas Vesalius Bruxellensis (1514- 1564)

A Flemish anatomist and surgeon, Andreas Vesalius was born on December 31, 1514 in Brussels, Belgium. He is considered to be the father of the science of Anatomy. Up until his studies and publications human anatomy studies consisted only on the confirmation of the old doctrines of Galen of Pergamon (129AD - 200AD). Anatomy professors would read to the students from Galen's work and a demonstrator would point in a body to the area being described, if a body was used at all. The reasoning was that there was no need to dissect since all that was needed to know was already written in Galen's books. Vesalius, Fallopius, and others started the change by describing what they actually saw in a dissection as opposed to what was supposed to be there. 

Vesalius had a notorious career, both as an anatomist and as a surgeon. His revolutionary book "De Humani Corporis Fabrica: Libri Septem" was published in May 26, 1543. One of the most famous anatomical images is his plate 22 of the book, called sometimes "The Hamlet". You can see this image if you hover over Vesalius' only known portrait which accompanies this article. Sir William Osler said of this book "... it is the greatest book ever printed, from which modern medicine dates" 

After the original 1543 printing, the Fabrica was reprinted in 1555. It was re-reprinted and translated in many languages, although many of these printings were low-quality copies with no respect for copyright or authorship.

The story of the wood blocks with the carved images used for the original printing extends into the 20th century. In 1934 these original wood blocks were used to print 617 copies of the book "Iconaes Anatomica". This book is rare and no more can be printed because, sadly, during a 1943 WWII bombing raid over Munich all the wood blocks were burnt.

One interesting aspect of the book was the landscape panorama in some of his most famous woodcuts which was only "discovered" until 1903.

Vesalius was controversial in life and he still is in death. We know that he died on his way back from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but how he died, and exactly where he died is lost in controversy. We do know he was alive when he set foot on the port of Zakynthos in the island of the same name in Greece. He is said to have suddenly collapsed and die at the gates of the city, presumably as a consequence of scurvy. Records show that he was interred in the cemetery of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, but the city and the church were destroyed by an earthquake and Vesalius' grave lost to history. Modern researchers are looking into finding the lost grave and have identified the location of the cemetery. This story has not ended yet.

For a detailed biography of Andreas Vesalius CLICK HERE.

Personal note: To commemorate Andrea Vesalius' 500th birthday in 2014, there were many scientific meetings throughout the world, one of them was the "Vesalius Continuum" anatomical meeting on the island of Zakynthos, Greece on September 4-8, 2014. This is the island where Vesalius died in 1564. I had the opportunity to attend and there are several articles in this website on the presence of Andreas Vesalius on Zakynthos island. During 2015 I also attended a symposium on "Vesalius and the Invention of the Modern Body" at the St. Louis University. At this symposium I had the honor of meeting of Drs. Garrison and Hast, authors of the "New Fabrica". Dr. Miranda


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History of Surgical Stapling (2)

This article is part of the series "A Moment in History" where we honor those who have contributed to the growth of medical knowledge in the areas of anatomy, medicine, surgery, and medical research.

History of Surgical Stapling
Pioneers of Surgical Stapling

 Before the invention of the first surgical staplers some inroads where towards the development of automated suture devices and clamps that allowed surgeons to manipulate the tissues to obtain proper suture placement. These devices, some of them based on the first sewing machines did not survive the test of time. 

The first true and successful surgical stapler was developed in 1908 by Dr. Hümer Hültl (1868 – 1940) in Hungary. Although heavy and cumbersome, this stapler had some of the concepts that are found today in modern surgical staplers: “B" shaped staples, staggered rows of staples, and attention to the avoidance of leakage through the staple line. Hültl’s stapler placed four staggered rows of wire staples. Today’s surgical staplers usually place two or three staggered rows of surgical titanium staples. History tells us that Dr. Hültl sold only 50 of his instruments because of high price, difficulty in reloading, and most importantly, the reticence of surgeons to adapt to this new technology. 

In 1920 the Hültl stapler was improved by Dr. Aladar Petz (1888 – 1956), also Hungarian. The “Von Petz stapler” was lighter, easier to use, used silver staples, more affordable in price, and sold all over the world, allowing for surgeons to see this new technology in use. 

 Unfortunately, the Von Petz stapler could only be used once in surgery, as it needed to be cleaned, reloaded, and sterilized before reusing it. 1934 Dr. H Friedrich of Ulm Germany invented the replaceable cartridge, so that a surgical stapler could be reused multiple times in one surgery. This opened the way for a “triangular” type end-to-end anastomosis that until this time could not be performed.  Also, Dr. Friedrich’s stapler had adjustable tissue compression.

Personal note: In 1987 I had the opportunity to scrub in one of the last uses of a Von Petz stapler in surgery (Chile, South America). This instrument was used to perform an “in toto” stapling and transection of the pulmonary hilum for a pneumonectomy. The instrument, after almost 40 years of its development, performed flawlessly. Dr. Miranda

Continued...

The history of surgical stapling [1] ; [2]; [3]; [Video]

Sources
1. "Surgical stapling" Mallina, R F   1962 Scientific American 207, 48
2. “Science of Stapling: Urban Legend and Fact” Pfiedler & Ethicon EndoSurgery
3. “Cholecystointestinal, gastrointestinal, enterintestinal anastomosis, and approximation without sutures” Murphy JB. Med Rec (1892) 42: 665
4. “Study of Tissue Compression Processes in Suturing Devices” Astafiev, G. (1967 (USSR Ministry of Health, Ed.)
5. “Rese?as Hist?ricas: John Benjamin Murphy” Parquet, R.A. Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam 2010;40:97
6. “The Science of Stapling and Leaks” Baker, R. S., & et al. (2004) Obesity Surgery, 14, 1290-1298.
7. “John Benjamin Murphy – Pioneer of gastrointestinal anastomosis”Bhattacharya, K., & Bhattacharya, N. (2008). Indian J. Surg., 70, 330-333.
8. “The Story of Surgery” Graham, H. (1939) New York: Doubleday, Doran & Co.. Inc.
9. “Compression Anastomosis: History and Clinical Considerations”Kaidar-Person, O, et al, e. (2008) Am J Surg, 818-826.
10. “Current Practice of Surgical Stapling”Ravitch, M. M., Steichen, F. M., & Welter, R. (1991) Philadelphia: Lea& Febiger.
11. “Aladar Petz (1888-1956) and his world-renowned invention: The gastric stapler” Olah, A. Dig Surg 2002: 19; 393-399