History and Present Status of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in China

Abstract

Development of thoracic surgery in China dated back to about 50 years.[1] The first thoracic surgery unit was established at the Peking Union Medical College in the early 1930’s. The clinical work mainly dealt with thoracic trauma, empyema and pulmonary tuberculosis. The first successful pulmonary lobectomy was performed for bronchiectasis in 1937 (PUMC Hosp. No. 52832, Operator was T. T. Wang). The first successful esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy for carcinoma was performed in 1940 (PUMC Hosp. No. 68351). The first successful total pneumonectomy for carcinoma was performed in 1941 (PUMC Hosp. No. 75490, Operator was C. C. Chang). With the introduction of modern radiologic diagnosis, bronchoscopy, endotracheal anesthesia and antibiotics, modern thoracic surgery began to grow in the 1940’s. More thoracic surgery units were organized in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing and other major cities. The first ligation of patent ductus arteriosus was performed in Chungking in 1944 (Chungking Central Hosp. No. 2715).[2] The first successful pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis was performed in Tianjin in 1948 (Tianjin Central Hosp. No. 3659).[3]