Pioneer of Cardiothoracic Surgery – Joaquim Cavalcanti

Abstract

Joaquim de Souza Cavalcanti was a pioneer among us — the Brazilian State of Pernambuco and North-Northeast region — in cardiac surgery in its initial phase (Blalock-Taussig surgery and mitral valvulotomy), in thoracic surgery (pneumectomy, lung lobectomy and segmentectomy, lung decortication, and mediastinal tumor resection), and in numerous techniques and operative tactics in general surgery.