Category: History of cardiology

For a long time, the cause of myocardial infarction remained poorly understood. Initially attributed to a gradual blockage of the arteries, it is now recognized as a frequently sudden event related to the formation of a bloodBlood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. White blood cells make up our immune defense system. Platelets contribute to blood clot. This discovery, confirmed in the 1970s, transformed cardiology and led to the development of effective treatments.

The history of coronary arteryThe two coronary arteries, the right and the left, form the blood network that supplies the heart with oxygen and nutrients. They are located directly on the surface of the heart and branch into smaller vessels that bypass surgery reflects the evolution of techniques that led to the development of the concept of a “bypass” to restore bloodBlood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. White blood cells make up our immune defense system. Platelets contribute to blood flow beyond coronary blockages.

Born in the 1960s, coronary care units revolutionized the management of myocardial infarction by enabling continuous monitoring and rapid intervention, thereby significantly reducing mortality.

Digitalis marked a turning point in the history of heart failure treatment. From herbal medicine to the birth of modern pharmacology, a key discovery in cardiology. .

The history of the pacemaker begins with the early ideas of Albert Hyman and takes shape through the work of Paul Zoll and Walt Lillehei. These pioneers demonstrated that electrical stimulation could control the heart rhythm, paving the way for the development of the modern pacemaker and a major advance in cardiac medicine.

Coronary angiography uses contrast dye and X-rays to visualize the heart’s arteries and detect blockages. Introduced in the late 1950s, it transformed the diagnosis of coronary arteryThe two coronary arteries, the right and the left, form the blood network that supplies the heart with oxygen and nutrients. They are located directly on the surface of the heart and branch into smaller vessels that disease.

The discovery of cardiac catheterization, born from an unusual and daring event, represents a major milestone in cardiology. This breakthrough transformed the way heart diseases are diagnosed and understood.

Cardiac defibrillation — from Claude Beck’s manual heart massage in 1947 to today’s portable defibrillators — represents one of the greatest breakthroughs in emergency medicine.
In less than half a century, these discoveries have turned a once-fatal arrhythmia into a condition that can often be reversed, saving thousands of lives every year.

History of John Gibbon, pioneer of extracorporeal circulation and inventor of the heart-lung machine, a decisive breakthrough in modern cardiac surgery.

History of Dr. Walt Lillehei, pioneer of open-heart surgery through cross circulation, a major milestone in the evolution of modern cardiac surgery.