A.I. BURNASYAN FMBC CLINICAL BULLETIN

ISSN 2782-6430 (print)

State Research Center −Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical
Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency

The journal is published in Russian.
Format – A4.
The periodicity of the journal is 4 times a year.

Issue №3, 2026

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A.I. Burnasyan  FMBC clinical bulletin. 2026 № 3

A.V. Nikulin, S.K. Gogoleva, S.A. Chemisova, A.A. Fomicheva, E.A. Yachmeneva, D.A. Lipatov, T.V. Khorobrykhh

Thoracic Surgery of the Ancient World and the Middle Ages

I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia , Moscow, Russian Federation

Contact person: Nikulin Andrey Vladimirovich: nikulin5642@gmail.com

 

Abstract
Operations on the chest organs, in our understanding “thoracic surgery”, have deep historical roots, dating back to the eras of the Ancient World and the Middle Ages. In this article, an attempt is made to trace the history of the development of thoracic surgery in the works of doctors from the Ancient World to the Middle Ages. Key aspects of thoracic surgery are considered in the context of the historical development of medical thought. Even in those days, doctors and healers made the first attempts to treat injuries and diseases of the chest, relying on the knowledge and tools available to them. Evidence from ancient medical treatises, medieval manuscripts are analyzed, demonstrating the evolution of approaches to the treatment of chest wounds, diseases of the lungs and pleura. Particular attention is paid to the views of outstanding doctors of the past, such as Hippocrates, Galen, Avicenna and others, whose works influenced the formation of surgical practices.

Keywords: thoracic surgery, Hippocrates, Aristotle, Galen, Avicenna, Rhazes, Albucasis, Vesalius, Mondeville, Sabuncuoglu

For citation: Nikulin AV, Gogoleva S.K., Chemisova SA, Fomicheva AA, Yachmeneva EA, Lipatov DA, Khorobrykh TV. Thoracic Surgery of the Ancient World and the Middle Ages. A.I. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center Clinical Bulletin. 2026.3:109-114. (In Russian) DOI: 10.33266/2782-6430-2026-3-109-114

 

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Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Financing. The study had no sponsorship.
Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.
Article received: 04.03.2026. Accepted for publication: 10.04.20226

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