Above the Cut

A fascinating account of the evolution of surgery - from the 16th century to the present day - in 60 stories across 5 specializations

Erich Mühe, the first surgeon to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy or gall bladder removal surgery. Jean-Michel Dubernard, the first to successfully conduct the transplant of a single human hand. Lawson Tait, the first to conduct an appendectomy. Denton Cooley, the first to successfully transplant a human heart. Edward Mason, the first to perform a gastric bypass. Arvinder Singh Soin, the first to conduct liver and kidney transplants using organs from two different donors on the same patient. The life-altering list of medical firsts goes on.

Through 60 stories that delve into the advent of modern-day surgical practices, Legends of Modern Surgery traces the incredible work done by skilled surgeons in their respective fields. Surgery, as we know it today, has been made possible through their innovative thinking with the aim of improving patient outcomes, the effective implementation of technologically driven procedures and the precision with which they have performed the most intricate procedures. This inspiring book celebrates the contributions of surgeons who took charge and took the field of surgery in new directions, thus shaping surgical practices as we know them today.