F. John Lewis

F. John Lewis

Name	F. John Lewis
Birth name
Birth date	March 5, 1916
Birth place	Spokane, Washington, United States
Death date	January 5, 1993
Death place	St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Alma mater
Occupation	Surgeon, Professor
Years active
Organization
Known for	First successful open-heart surgery using hypothermia
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

F. John Lewis (March 5, 1916 – January 5, 1993) was an American surgeon and a pioneer in the field of cardiac surgery. He is best known for performing the first successful open-heart surgery using hypothermia on September 2, 1952.

Early Life and Education

F. John Lewis was born in Spokane, Washington, and grew up in a family that valued education and hard work. He attended the University of Washington, where he completed his undergraduate studies. He then pursued a medical degree at the Harvard Medical School, graduating in 1942.

Medical Career

After completing his medical degree, Lewis served in the United States Army Medical Corps during World War II. Following his military service, he trained in surgery at the University of Minnesota, where he worked under the mentorship of Owen H. Wangensteen, a prominent surgeon and innovator.

Open-Heart Surgery

In the early 1950s, the field of cardiac surgery was in its infancy. Surgeons were seeking methods to operate on the heart safely. Lewis, along with his colleagues, explored the use of hypothermia to slow the body's metabolic processes, allowing more time to perform surgery on the heart.

On September 2, 1952, Lewis performed the first successful open-heart surgery using hypothermia on a 5-year-old girl with an atrial septal defect. The procedure involved cooling the patient's body to reduce oxygen demand, allowing the heart to be stopped temporarily while the defect was repaired. This groundbreaking surgery marked a significant advancement in cardiac surgery and paved the way for future developments in the field.

Later Career and Contributions

Following his success with open-heart surgery, Lewis continued to innovate and contribute to the field of cardiac surgery. He became a professor of surgery at the University of Minnesota, where he trained many future leaders in the field. His work laid the foundation for the development of the heart-lung machine, which would further revolutionize cardiac surgery.

Legacy

F. John Lewis is remembered as a pioneer in cardiac surgery. His innovative use of hypothermia in open-heart surgery demonstrated the potential for surgical intervention in previously inoperable heart conditions. His contributions have had a lasting impact on the field, improving the lives of countless patients worldwide.

Also see

• Cardiac surgery
• Hypothermia in surgery
• Heart-lung machine
• Owen H. Wangensteen