title: Ludwig Rehn (1849-1930): the German surgeon who performed the worldwide first successful cardiac operation.
abstract: Ludwig Rehn, a German surgeon, performed the worldwide first successful cardiac operation in 1896 when he repaired a stab wound to the heart by direct suture. When he presented his work one year later at a surgical conference this pioneering operation evoked considerable ethical discussion. Rehn's surgical contributions also include carrying out the first thyroidectomy in 1880 and clarifying the causes of cancer in workers in the local aniline factories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, Georg-August-University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Orla J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sohns
authors.forename: Aron F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Popov
authors.forename: Jannik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haskamp
authors.forename: Jan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schmitto
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000266:history*; D005858:Germany; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery