May Day of 1961 and Self-appendectomy with Novocaine in Antarctica: Leonid Rogozov ’s 0.5% Solution?

The sole physician to a 13-man Soviet team of researchers at isolated Novolazarevskaya Station in Antarctica, Dr. Leonid Ivanovich Rogozov (1934 to 2000) diagnosed his own appendicitis in late April of 1961. Using a mirror and syringefuls of 0.5% Novocaine (procaine), Rogozov performed self-surgery under a supplemented field block on May Day, successfully removing his appendix. His surgical feat made headlines worldwide and was even memorialized “12/10/61” by Thai artist Artchan Artthex (lower left). Titled “Dr. Leonid Rogozov” (upper left), this graphite-on-paper features a rear view of the surgically gowned Rogozov with the peaks of Antarctica in the background (right). (Copyright © the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology.)
Source: Anesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research