title: [Development of modern physical diagnosis and its application in cardiothoracic surgery].
abstract: The year 2000 marked the 300th anniversary of the birth of Gerard Van Swieten (1700-1772). He reformed medicine in Vienna, putting new emphasis on diagnosis based on clinical observation in combination with anatomical-pathological findings. This led to the introduction by Leopold Auenbrugger (1722-1809) of percussion in the examination of thoracic organs. However, further work by Joseph Skoda (1805-1881) was required to finally establish this method as a diagnostic tool for pathologies in the thorax. The surgeon Franz Schuh (1804-1865) carried out further basic research in respiratory physiology that cleared the way for the use of percussion and auscultation in thoracic surgery. He is also remembered for introducing experimental surgery in Austria, thus making surgery a science. This article aims to recall these men and their fundamental work behind early paracentesis of the thorax, and especially the first successful pericardiotomy by Schuh 160 years ago, which is also considered a milestone in cardiac surgery.
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Herzchirurgie, Chirurgische Universitätsklinik, Graz, Osterreich. olaf.stanger@kfunigraz.ac.at
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stanger
mesh_terms: D001314:Auscultation / Q000266:history*; D001317:Austria; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D010474:Percussion / Q000266:history*; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000266:history*