A revolutionary surgery took place on this day 64 years ago, changing the world of medicine as we know it.

 


A revolutionary surgery took place on this day 64 years ago, changing the world of medicine as we know it.


 For the first time ever, a machine was inserted into the human body in lieu of a body part that was no longer able to function correctly. 


In 1958, two doctors, cardiac surgeon Ake Senning and medical device engineer Rune Elmqvist, implanted the first ever internal cardiac pacemaker into the body of Swedish engineer Arne Larsson. Larsson’s surgery was done to treat his Stokes-Adams syndrome, a condition that slows the heartbeat and decreases blood flow to the brain, resulting in potentially fatal fainting spells. 


This revolutionary internal pacemaker was the size of a hockey puck and used two transistors that would deliver tiny shocks to the heart. Unfortunately, the first edition of this pacemaker would not last past 8 hours. Thankfully, Senning managed to successfully implant a second pacemaker that Elmqvist had ready on hand. 


This second pacemaker was more successful than its predecessor, and Larsson was discharged from the hospital within two weeks. Since that operation, Larsson had received 26 pacemakers over his lifetime. He would outlive both Elmquist and Senning, ultimately passing away on January 18, 2002. 


Do you know anyone who uses a cardiac pacemaker?


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