On the development of artery aneurysm surgery in Russia in the XIX century (based on thematerials of the medical newspaper “Friend оf Health”, published from 1833 to 1869)

• Marat R. Yalyshev
• Sergey P. Glyantsev

Abstract

Relevance. Surgery of arterial aneurysms in the Russian Empire began in St. Petersburg in the 1806-–1810s at the Medical and Surgical Academy under the leadership of I.F. Bush (Glossev S.P., Kryukov Yu.Yu., 2022). The further development of this area of surgery until the middle of the XIX century was described by Yu.Yu. Kryukov (2023) according to monographs and dissertations of that time. However, we believe that the periodical medical press, in particular, the medical newspaper “Friend of Health”, which was published from 1833 to 1869, played an important role in spreading knowledge about achievements in this field of surgery. However, there are very few studies on the history of the development of vascular surgery in this period based on the materials of the periodical press, and according to the newspaper “Friend of Health” there is not at all.

The purpose – to recreate and analyze the development of arterial aneurysm surgery in Russia in the XIX century. based on publications in the medical newspaper “Friend of Health”.

Material. From 1833 to 1869, the medical newspaper “Friend of Health” published 197 articles by foreign authors and 15 reports by Russian surgeons concerning surgery of arterial aneurysm.

Methods: the analysis of publications on aneurysms was carried out using historical, evolutionary-chronological and comparative methods.

Results and discussion. A content analysis of the following publications was carried out: N.S. Alexandrovsky (1855) “On hypertrophy of the right ventricle of the heart (Apeigisma activum Corvisar)”; I.V. Buyalsky “On ligation of the unnamed artery (Ligatura arteriae innominatae)” (1833), “On the first successful operations for ligation of popliteal aneurysms, conducted in St. Petersburg” (1850), “On ligation of the unnamed artery” (1854) and “Popliteal aneurysm, ruptured (Anevrisma poplitaeum ruptum), cured by ligation of the femoral artery” (1864); I.F. Geifelder “On the case of an aneurysm of the mandibular artery” (1856); H.J. Hubbenet “On the operation of a false aneurysm in the ulnar fold” (1855); K.I. Groom “On three ligations of unnamed arteries made in Russia in 1827 and 1833” (1834); “On the ligation of the artery in anevrysma arteriae Abrachialis spurium” (1836) and “On the speech of P.A. Naranovich with an anatomical analysis of the aneurysm of the superior ascending artery that burst into the right ventricle of the heart” (1842); V. Donetskiy “Popliteal aneurysm (Anevrisma poplitaeum), cured by injection)” (1843), K.I. Groom “Review of the work of Dr. I.F. Hildebrand “On the recognition and treatment of aneurysms and on the operation of ligation of arteries” (1843); N.I. Pirogov “On the possibility of ligature on the abdominal aorta” (1839) and “On ligation of the left common iliac artery due to traumatic aneurysm arteriae gluteae” (1852); I.V. Rklitsky “On ligation of the external iliac artery in the case of femoral artery aneurysm” (1852).

Conclusion. Arterial aneurysm in Russia in the nineteenth century was diagnosed quite successfully, but operations with this vascular lesion were isolated. Only 15 (2%) out of 197 reports were devoted to the description of clinical observations and surgical treatment of this disease in the newspaper “Friend of Health”, which may indicate both the difficulties of diagnosis and the high risk of aneurysm surgery. During these years, for the first time in Russia, an aneurysm of the unnamed artery was described (I.V. Buyalsky, 1833, 1834) and an aneurysm of the ascending aorta (K.I. Groom, 1842), a method of ligation of the abdominal aorta in an aneurysm of the iliac artery in an experiment (N.I. Pirogov, 1839). Operations for aneurysms performed after the discovery of anesthesia (1847) and before the introduction of antiseptics (1867) included ligation of arteries according to the methods of Antill, Filagrius, P. Brazdor, J. Gunther.

Research design: retrospective.

Funding. The study had no financial support.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Authors’ contribution. Concept and design of the study – Glyantsev S.P.; collection and processing of material – Yalyshev M.R.; statistical processing – Yalyshev M.R.; writing the text – Yalyshev M.R.; editing – Glyantsev S.P.

For citation: Yalyshev M.R., Glyantsev S.P. On the development of artery aneurysm surgery in Russia in the XIX century (based on the materials of the medical newspaper “Friend оf Health”, published from 1833 to 1869). Angiology and Vascular Surgery. Journal named after Academician A.V. Pokrovsky. 2025; 31 (1): 19–33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33029/1027-6661-2025-31-1-19-33

Keywords: vascular surgery in Russia; arterial aneurysm; first descriptions; treatment methods