Early techniques were primitiveeven barbaric by todays standards.Anesthesiawas not used until the mid-1800s.
These advances continue asrobotic surgery,laser surgery, and microsurgery allow surgeons to treat conditions once thought untreatable.
This article provides a timeline of notable surgeries and medical advances from the Stone Age through the early 2020s.
Reza Estakhrian / Getty Images
The focus moving forward is placed more on refining those techniques to ensure better short- and long-term outcomes.
21st Century
The words that arguably best describe surgery in the 21st century are smaller and safer.
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Singh V.Sushruta: the father of surgery.Natl J Maxillofac Surg.
2020;6(4):657-658. doi:10.1016/j.jvscit.2020.07.006
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Laios K.Wilhelm Fabricius von Hilden (1560-1634): the pioneer of German surgery.Surg Innov.
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National Womens History Museum.Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919).
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National Army Museum (U.K.).The birth of plastic surgery.
American Chemical Society.Discovery and development of penicillin.
Science Museum (U.K.).Magnus Hirschfeld and the Institute for Sexual Science.
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American Academy of Ophthalmology.Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
1955;142(3):401-415. doi:10.1097/00000658-195509000-00009
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Casanova D; en nombre de Grupo Espanol de Trasplante de Pancreas.Pancreas transplantation: 50 years of experience.Cir Esp.
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Department of Veterans Affairs.First successful liver transplant.
Cooper DKC.Christiaan Barnardthe surgeon who dared: the story of the first human-to-human heart transplant.
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2005;7(9):583-588.
Texas Heart Institute.50th Anniversary of the worlds first total artificial heart.
1998;2(3):309-313.
University of Utah Health.The first artificial heart, 30 years later.
Loma Linda University Health.Infant heart transplantation.
Loma Linda University Health.Baby Moses, all grown up, visits Loma Linda University Health.
Kankariya V.The engine of innovation with a human faceProf.
Ioannis Pallikaris.Indian J Ophthalmol.
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ScienceDaily.FDA approves new robotic surgery unit.
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University of Gothenburg.Research on uterus transplant.
Washington University in St. Louis.Surgeons restore some hand function to quadriplegic patient.
NYU Langone Health.NYU Langone Health performs worlds first whole-eye & partial-face transplant.
