On 29th April 1961, Leonid Rogozov was faced with a decision that nobody would want to make. He had developed acute appendicitis, and knew that his appendix would have to be removed or he would almost certainly die. There was just one problem; he was the only doctor within 1600 miles.
Complete Isolation
Leonid Rogozov was part of a Russian Antarctic Expedition sent to establish a new research base, and by February he and his team had settled in to wait out the long polar winter. In a report that he wrote after his experience, Rogozov stoically states that he ‘did not feel well’ on the morning of April 29th. In his diary he is more forthright; “It hurts like the devil!”, he wrote. “A snow storm whipping through my soul, wailing like 100 jackals.” Rogozov had no doubt he was suffering from appendicitis, and knew that his options were limited. Though there were other foreign stations nearby that might have offered assistance, none of them had a plane or any other means of getting him to another doctor, and an incoming blizzard ruled out the possibility of travelling too far. By the evening, Rogozov knew he had no choice – he would have to perform the surgery to remove his appendix himself.
Problem Solving
Rogozov planned his surgery meticulously. With the assistance of meteorologist Artem’yev and driver Teplinskiy, he established a set-up where he could lay in a semi reclining position, so he could see what he was doing. He also had Teplinskiy hold a mirror, though Rogozov preferred to rely on touch, as the reversed image in the mirror added a further layer of complication.
Rogozov considered every aspect of the surgery, and even made sure to instruct his assistants on what to do if he lost consciousness during the operation. Then, using only a local anesthetic of novocaine, Rogozov cut into his own abdomen. With no other anesthetic possible, he had to take regular breaks to cope with the nausea and vertigo. After two grueling hours, Rogozov had successfully removed his appendix, and not a moment too soon. When he saw the darkened stain on his appendix, he realised it had been just a day away from rupturing.
After a weeks difficult recovery the wound had fully healed, and after two weeks Rogozov was able to carry out his normal duties. The surgery had been a complete success.
What Next?
When Rogozov returned to Russia in 1962, he was praised as a national hero. Rogozov, however, was not interested in being a celebrity. He immediately returned to completing his MD thesis on surgery to treat throat cancer, which he presented in 1966. He worked as a doctor and surgeon for the rest of his life, until his death from lung cancer in 2000 at the age of 66.
Polar Exploration Today
Today, researchers who will be stationed in Antarctica usually have their appendixes removed as a matter of course to prevent such an emergency arising. However, those working in such a remote and hostile environment still have to face extraordinary challenges. Even today, hypothermia, snowmobile accidents, and even fire are all very real dangers in the polar wastes. Though aided by state-of-the-art technology and rigorous training, modern researchers meet these challenges with the same courage and presence of mind that Rogozov demonstrated to survive against the odds.
Sources and Further Reading
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-32481442
http://corpus.leeds.ac.uk/serge/rogozov-1964.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Rogozov
https://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b4965
Haddelsey, S., Icy Graves; Exploration and Death in the Antarctic, (Gloucestershire, 2018)