Ob/Gyn History

A timeline of important innovations in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

First successful cesarean delivery - Jakob Nufer

Jakob Nufer, in Switzerland, around 1500, is reported to have performed the first cesarean delivery in which the mother lived. The mother was his wife, and she reportedly had five children afterwards.

First successful ovariotomy - Robert Houston

About 1700, Robert Houston of Glasgow, performed either the first successful ovariotomy or perhaps the first successful ovarian cyst drainage. The exact details are unknown. But at least he opened up a woman and drained a large ovarian cyst with success.

Puerperal sepsis suspected to be infectious - Alexander Gordon

Puerperal sepsis was first proposed to be due to an infectious contagion as a result of an observational, epidemiological study in Aberdeen, Scotland.

First ovarian cystectomy - Ephraim McDowell

Ephraim McDowell performed the first successful ovarian cystectomy on Jane Todd Crawford, a cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln, after her physician believed that she was suffering from a post-term pregnancy. She chose surgery over then common slow and painful death associated with large ovarian tumors and made a complete recovery.

First vaginal modern vaginal hysterectomy (unplanned) - Paletta

G.B. Paletta sought to remove a cancerous tumor from the cervix in 1812, and after the surgery was over, he discovered that he had removed the entire uterus. A hysterectomy was not planned and the surgery was ultimately unsuccessful as the patient died on postoperative day 3.

C.J.M. Langenbeck

First modern, documented total vaginal hysterectomy (though certainly not the first).

James Blundell

First ever blood transfusion, performed for postpartum hemorrhage.

John Creery Ferguson

Fetal heart tone auscultated for the first time.

Charles Clay

First abdominal hysterectomy (the patient died).

Evory Kennedy

First detailed account of fetal heart tones made.

Crawford Williamson Long

Ether first administered to a woman in labor.

Ignaz Semmelweis

Puerperal fever shown to be caused by infectious contagion through interventional trial proving that it could be prevented.

James Young Simpson

Chloroform first used as an anesthetic, used during labor.

J. Marion Sims

Vesicovaginal fistula successfully treated with surgery.

Gilman Kimbell

First successful, planned abdominal hysterectomy (Lowell, Massachusetts)

Walter Burnham

First successful adbominal hysterectomy (Lowell, Massachusetts)

J. Marion Sims

First human artificial insemination.

D. Commander Pantaleoni

First operative hysteroscopy performed.

Robert Lawson Tait

First oopherectomy for sepsis.

Robert Lawson Tait

First bilateral oopherectomy for menorrhagia.

Edoardo Porro

First successful Cesarean-Hysterectomy.

J. Marion Sims

First cholecystotomy (patient died).

Robert Lawson Tait

First successful cholecystotomy.

Robert Lawson Tait

First removal of hydatid cust.

Robert Lawson Tait

First appendectomy for acute appendicitis.

Max Sänger

Classical Cesarean Section technique (including closing myotomy) first described.

Ernst Wertheim

First successful radical abdominal hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

Hermann Pfannenstiel (Gyn.)

Transverse skin and fascial incision reported.

Alfred Duhrssen

First successful series of vaginal cesarean sections reported.

Hunter Robb (Gyn.)

Use of rubber gloves in surgery popularized.

Robert Lawson Tait

First successful salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy.

Oskar Kreis (Ob.)

Spinal anesthesia first used in labor.

Walter Stoeckel (Ob.)

Epidural anesthesia first used in labor.

Dimitri Oh (Gyn.)

First successful laparoscopy performed (through incision in vaginal fornix).

Leonard Colebrook

Sulphonamides first used to treat puerperal fever in Queen Charlotte’s Hospital.

John Martin Munro Kerr

Lower uterine segment incision for cesarean section shown to be superior.

Geroge Nicholas Papanicolau

First screening test for cancer introduced (for cervical cancer).

Orvan Hess (Ob.)

Penicillin first used successfully in a human patient, Anne Miller, to treat septic abortion.

Wallace E. Herrell

Clinical efficacy and pharmicokinetics of Penicillin established (originally for treatment of syphilis).

Vincent du Vigneaud

Oxytocin synthesized (the first posterior pituitary hormone synthesized)

Ian Donald

Ultrasound developed (originally for obstetric use).

Hertz and Li

First solid tumor cured by chemotherapy (choriocarcinoma, methotrexate).

Raoul Palmer (Gyn.)

Modern laparoscopy technique introduced (insufflation, Trendelenburg position, etc.).

Kurst Semm (Gyn.)

Automatic insufflator invented for laparoscopy.

Patrick Christopher Steptoe

In vitro fertilization first performed successfully.

Philippe Mouret

First laparascopic cholecystectomy performed (during a gynecologic laparoscopy).