1900s

• Who discovered X-rays and in what year?

  William Rontgen in 1895
• How did X-rays impact surgery?

  They allowed viewing inside patients without surgery
• What did Marie and Pierre Curie notice while working with X-rays?

  Burns on their hands from the material
• What was the significance of the Curies' observation?

  It led to modern cancer diagnosis and treatment
• Who pioneered the use of anaesthetics injected into veins and when?

  Helmuth Wesse in the 1930s
• What was the purpose of tissue typing introduced in 1962?

  To match kidneys to patients and reduce rejection
• What drug was introduced in the 1980s to prevent organ rejection?

  Cyclosporine
• When was the first kidney transplant performed?

  In 1954
• When was the first liver transplant performed?

  In 1963
• Who performed the first heart transplant and when?

  Christiaan Barnard in 1967
• What surgical technique was pioneered in the 1980s?

  Micro-surgery
• What is keyhole surgery and when was it developed?

  It allows small cameras to be inserted since 1990s
• What remains a challenge in modern neurosurgery?

  Little is known about brain function control
• What advancements have been made in transplant surgery?

  Whole face transplants can now be performed
• What difficulties do patients face after face transplants?

  Struggles with speech and facial expressions
• What issue has hospitals faced in the last 10 years?

  Growth of infections and superbugs like MRSA
• Why are superbugs a concern in modern medicine?

  They are resistant to strong antibiotics
• What challenge do hospital trusts face regarding surgery?

  Managing resources and making difficult choices
• What are the key developments in modern surgery?

  • Discovery of X-rays (1895)
  • Anaesthetics by Helmuth Wesse (1930s)
  • Tissue typing (1962)
  • Cyclosporine for organ rejection (1980s)
  • Kidney transplant (1954), liver transplant (1963)
  • First heart transplant by Christiaan Barnard (1967)
  • Micro-surgery (1980s)
  • Keyhole surgery (1990s)
• What problems remain in modern surgery?

  • Limited understanding of brain functions
  • Challenges in fine motor movements post-transplant
  • Rise of infections and superbugs like MRSA
  • High costs of modern surgical procedures