René Leriche (1879–1955): Innovator of vascular surgery

Abstract

Historic accounts of vascular surgery reflect a myriad of beliefs about the vascular system. Medical pioneers, such as Sushruta (an Indian surgeon predating Hippocrates), Galen and Ambroise Paré (a renowned French surgeon of the 16th century), had all described the use of ligatures as a way to control haemorrhage, but medical practice prior to the 1700s continued to prefer the use of boiling oil and chemical styptic to cauterise blood vessels. The coming of age in vascular surgery, incorporating scientific principles and careful haemostasis, can be traced to a handful of pioneers, among them a Frenchman named René Leriche.