Leonid Rogozov facts for kids

Leonid Ivanovich Rogozov (Russian: Леони́д Ива́нович Ро́гозов; born March 14, 1934 – died September 21, 2000) was a Soviet doctor. He became famous for something incredible he did during an expedition to Antarctica. In April 1961, while working at a remote research station, he got very sick with appendicitis. Since he was the only doctor there, he had to perform surgery on himself to remove his appendix!

Early Life and Training

Leonid Rogozov was born in a small village called Dauriya. This village is in eastern Siberia, close to the borders of Mongolia and China. Sadly, his father died in World War II in 1943.

In 1953, Leonid finished high school. He then went to medical school in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). He studied to become a general doctor. After graduating in 1959, he began training to become a surgeon.

Joining the Antarctic Expedition

In September 1960, when he was 26 years old, Rogozov paused his surgery training. He decided to join the sixth Soviet Antarctic Expedition. His job was to be the medical doctor for the team.

Doctor in Antarctica

From September 1960 to October 1962, Rogozov worked in Antarctica. He was the only doctor for a team of thirteen researchers. They were stationed at Novolazarevskaya Station. This station was set up in January 1961.

A Medical Emergency

On April 29, 1961, Rogozov started feeling unwell. He felt weak and sick to his stomach. He also had a fever and pain in his lower right stomach. He tried different treatments, but nothing helped.

By April 30, it was clear he had a serious infection. His condition got much worse that evening. The nearest Soviet research station, Mirny, was over 1,000 miles away. Other countries' stations nearby did not have planes available. Also, a severe snowstorm made it impossible for any aircraft to land. Rogozov realized he had no choice but to operate on himself.

Performing Self-Surgery

The operation began at 2:00 AM on May 1. Rogozov had help from a driver and a meteorologist. They handed him instruments and held a mirror. This mirror helped him see parts of his body he couldn't normally see.

Rogozov lay on his side. He used a special medicine called novocaine to numb his stomach area. He made a cut about 10–12 cm long in his stomach. While opening up, he accidentally cut part of his intestine. He had to quickly sew it up.

Then, he found his appendix. He saw a dark spot at its base. He knew it would burst within a day if he didn't remove it. He cut out the appendix. He then put antibiotics directly inside his body. About 30–40 minutes into the surgery, he felt weak and sick. He had to take short breaks to rest. The operation was finished around 4:00 AM.

Recovery and Recognition

After the surgery, Rogozov slowly started to get better. The infection signs improved. His body temperature returned to normal after five days. The stitches were removed seven days later. He was back to his regular duties in about two weeks.

His colleagues took pictures of the self-surgery. This amazing story became very famous in the Soviet Union. In 1961, he received a special award called the Order of the Red Banner of Labour. Because of this incident, new rules were made. From then on, everyone going on such expeditions had to have very thorough health checks.

Later Life and Career

In October 1962, Rogozov returned to Leningrad. He continued his medical studies. In September 1966, he finished his advanced degree. His research was about treating esophageal cancer.

He worked as a doctor in different hospitals in Leningrad. From 1986 to 2000, he led the surgery department at a research institute. Leonid Rogozov passed away in 2000 at the age of 66. He died in Saint Petersburg, Russia, from lung cancer.

See also

• Evan O'Neill Kane