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Ann Thorac Surg 2001;72:318
© 2001 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Correspondence

The pride of our surgical heritage: Reply

e-mail: igorkonst{at}hotmail.com
e-mail: alexi{at}dhzb.de

To the Editor

It was gratifying to read the kind comments by Drs Angelo Actis Dato and Guglielmo M. Actis Dato on our letter to the editor [1]. The history of the cavopulmonary shunt has been recently addressed in more detail in our formal article [2]. Doctor Angelo Actis Dato’s account of his pioneering work and personal communications with Professor Bakulev is interesting. We believe that it would be of great interest to our profession if the authors could find time to publish original photographs of Dr Achille Mario Dogliotti and give a detailed account of the pioneering effort of his surgical team.

It does not cease to amaze us how often many surgeons from all over the world work independently to resolve the same problem. Although it appears that they follow the way of nature, their innovations create a wave of anxiety and resistance from more conservative colleagues. In words of Horace (65–8 BC), Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret, which translated states if you drive nature out with a pitchfork, it will soon find a way back. The development of cavopulmonary shunts and coronary artery bypass operations are good examples. Once the obstacles are overcome, only a few get recognition, whereas the work of many others falls into oblivion. However truth, like nature, will find a way back.

It is also regrettable to see that some surgeons do not have international recognition simply because they have, naturally, chosen to publish their original papers in their native language. There were many firsts. Not all of them are recognized. Not all were successful or implemented their ideas in clinical practice. However, all of them contributed something original and precious to the total sum of our modern knowledge.

In summary, we take the liberty of paying homage to unknown pioneers in our profession by citing Horace again: Vitae summa brevis spem nos vetat incohare longam—Life’s short span forbids us to set out after far-reaching hopes.

References

1. Konstantinov I.E., Alexi-Meskishvili V.V. Early Italian contributions to cavo-pulmonary shunt procedures. Ann Thorac Surg 2000;69:311-312.
2. Konstantinov I.E., Alexi-Meskishvili V.V. Cavo-pulmonary shunt: from the first experience to clinical practice. Ann Thorac Surg 1999;68:1100-1106.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Igor E. Konstantinov Vladimir V. Alexi-Meskishvili Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Konstantinov, I. E. Articles by Alexi-Meskishvili, V. V. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Konstantinov, I. E. Articles by Alexi-Meskishvili, V. V. Related Collections History Related Article