In 1961 Leonid Rogozov was 27 years old, a surgical intern who had put his training on hold to join an expedition to Antarctica. He was the only doctor at a brand new outpost called Novolazarevskaya. Twelve other men lived there, and every one of them depended on him. Nobody else on the station had medical training. Rogozov had reached the ice after 36 days at sea, and his job was simple. Keep thirteen men healthy through a long, dark winter. The patient in greatest danger turned out to be himself. This is the story of what he did when the sickness arrived, and why it became one of the most famous operations ever performed. How does a surgeon operate when the only surgeon available is the patient?
Leonid Rogozov Removes His Own Appendix
A Soviet surgeon cut out his own appendix with a mirror, roughly 3,000 km from the nearest Soviet base.
Chapter 1
A Doctor With No Doctor
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Leonid Rogozov operate on himself?
He was the only doctor at the station, and blizzards and polar winter made rescue impossible. The nearest Soviet base was approximately 3,000 kilometres away. He judged that a burst appendix would kill him, so he decided to remove it himself.
How did Rogozov manage to see what he was doing?
He worked half turned on his left side, with a mechanic holding a mirror and a lamp. The mirror image was reversed and disorienting, so he worked partly by touch. He numbed only the abdominal wall with novocaine and stayed fully conscious.
What happened to Rogozov after the operation?
He recovered fully, removed his own stitches on May 7, 1961, and returned to normal duties within two weeks. His case also led the Soviet government to tighten medical screening for Antarctic postings.
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