Alexander Brunschwig

Alexander Brunschwig (September 11, 1901 – August 7, 1969) was born in El Paso, Texas. He died in 1969 at the age of 67 of coronary disease.[1]

Brunschwig developed pelvic exenteration surgery, which removes major organs from the patient's pelvic cavity. He performed 847 procedures, with a death rate similar to those of others later with more modern anesthesia. Pelvic exenteration is controversial, because it is one of the most aggressive and disfiguring surgeries used in oncology, and has not been subject to controlled clinical trials.[2]

In 1963, Brunschwig maintained that cancer of the uterine cervix, microscopically looked like a viral disease. That has since been proved.

He was in the forefront of implantation of the ureters and construction of substitute bladders from segments of the colon.

He worked with Alexander A. Maximow and William Bloom on their Textbook of Histology.

Further information

Obituary: Classics in Oncology ( a detailed review of his life and contributions).

References
  1. James Stuart Olson, The History of Cancer: An Annotated Bibliography (ABC-CLIO, 1989) p38
  2. The Annals of Extreme Surgery By BARRON H. LERNER, New York Times, August 29, 2011
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