title: Robert H. Goetz: the surgeon who performed the first successful clinical coronary artery bypass operation.
abstract: Robert H. Goetz performed the first successful clinical coronary artery bypass operation on May 2, 1960. He used a nonsuture technique to connect the right internal thoracic artery to the coronary artery by means of a modified Payr's cannula made of tantalum. The patency of the anastomosis was demonstrated angiographically and the patient remained free of angina pectoris for 1 year. It was an important and brave step forward, a step that was far ahead of its time. Unfortunately, his pioneering work was not appreciated and fell into oblivion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA. konstantinov.igor@mayo.edu
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Konstantinov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001775:Blood Circulation; D002309:Cardiology / Q000266:history; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000266:history*; D004285:Dogs; D005858:Germany; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States