de la Garza VL

Language: Spanish
References: 13
Page: 359-366
PDF size: 156.35 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To describe diverse aspects of the life of Dominique Jean Larrey and his contributions to surgery.
Data collection: Review of the literature (13 references).
Selection of the studies: Critical analysis of the articles where the military actions occurring in France during the First Empire are mentioned.
Setting: Third level health care hospital.
Results: The life and work of Dominique Jean Larrey is an example of an iron will to become a surgeon; later on, during the practice of his vocation, he was an example of tenacity, perspicacity, audacity, and innovative spirit. Hence, his contributions are notable on the indications and techniques for extremity amputations, especially, the lower ones; the surgical management and treatment of wounds, while performing what is now known as release of compartment and fasciotomies. Accompanying these features are his acute humanitarian sense, expressed in his memoirs “The emotional chaos for the military surgeons exposed to the horrors of the war, facing wounds and complex lesions without any hope, as well as the heart breaking requests for death from those men that suffered in desperation”.
Conclusion: The life and work of surgeons like Larrey demonstrate at the same time the horrors of the war, and the advances of a medical discipline, surgery, supported on human suffering.

REFERENCES

1. Bodemer CW. Baron Dominique-Jean Larrey, Napoleon’s surgeon. Bull Amer Coll Surg 1982; 67: 18-21.

2. Davis JH. History of trauma. In: Trauma. Feliciano, Moore, Mattox (eds). Appleton & Lange, Stanford Connecticut 1996: 9.

3. Gelfand T. A confrontation over clinical instruction at the Hôtel Dieu of Paris during the French revolution. J Hist Med Allied Sci 1973; 28: 268-82.

4. Hau T. Surgical practice of Dominique Jean Larrey. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1982; 154: 89-94.

5. Fackler ML. Misinterpretations concerning Larrey’s method of wound treatment. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1989; 168: 280-2.

6. Helling TS, Daon E. The historic lethality of penetrating wounds to the hip. Surgery 1997; 121: 264-77.

7. Historia de la Medicina. Lyons AS y Petrucelli J (editores). Ediciones Doyma, Barcelona, 1980.

8. Historia Universal de la Medicina. Lain-Entralgo P (editor). Masson - Salvat, México, 1998.

9. Putman JJ. Napoleon. Nat Geog 1982; 161: 142-89.

10. Surgery. An illustrated history. Rutkow IM (editor). Mosby-Year Book Inc. St. Louis, Missouri, 1993.

11. The Illustrated History of Surgery. Hæger K (ed). Harold Starke (medical) Publishers, London, England, 1988.

12. Wangensteen OH, Wangensteen SD, Klinger CF. Wound management of Ambroise Paré and Dominique Larrey great French military surgeons of the 16th and 19th centuries. Bull Hist Med 1972; 46: 207-34.

13. Weiner DB. The French revolution, Napoleon and the nursing profession. Bull Hist Med 1972; 46: 274-305.