Incredible fortitude and courage: how a Russian doctor operated on himself

Usually, when researchers go on long journeys, a doctor is with them to provide assistance if necessary. So, one of the participants of the Antarctic expedition in 1961 suddenly had a stomach ache on the right side, the temperature rose and vomiting appeared. There was no doubt, it was appendicitis. But ironically, the patient turned out to be a surgeon, who usually monitored the health of his wards. He found the only way out of this situation — he operated on himself.

On the evening of April 29, Leonid Ivanovich Rogozov, a surgeon who was on an Antarctic expedition, discovered all the signs of appendicitis. He tried to remove the pain symptoms by resting, antibiotics, applying cold, but nothing helped. The bad weather played out made it impossible to transport him to the right station "Novolazarevskaya". Without much hesitation, Leonid made a strong-willed decision: to operate on himself.

His assistants were a meteorologist, a mechanic and a station chief who had no idea about operations. Leonid Rogozov quickly instructed each of them and even tried to cheer up his comrades, whose eyes were round with horror.

Leonid Rogozov after the operation at the Novolazarevskaya station with his friend Yuri Vereshchagin.

Pictures of Leonid Rogozov after returning from the expedition.

A newspaper clipping about Rogozov's feat.