Yes, I know it is almost as incredible as when James Bond self- defibrillated in Casino Royale , but the story of Leonid Ivanovich Rogozov is no less. Leonid Rogozov was a Russian doctor born in 1934 who, between 1960 and 1961, participated in the sixth Soviet Antarctic Expedition. He was the only doctor in the group stationed at the Novolázarevskaya Base. While there he developed appendicitis that forced him to have an appendectomy, which made him famous for his self-surgery.
On April 29, 1961, Rogozov began to feel ill. He had general weakness, fever, and pain in the right side of his abdomen. Signs of appendicitis soon became apparent. He had to be taken to another base, but the closest one was 3074 km away, and as there was no availability of a plane, his appendix would not resist and he would suffer appendicitis that would cause death. So Rogozov had two options: die or perform the surgery himself. The second option seemed better to him.
Rózogov had the help of the tractor driver and the expedition meteorologist, who helped him by bringing the instruments closer to him and with a mirror so that he could see what his vision could not directly reach. An incision of about 12 cm was made to locate the appendix, and although it was difficult for him to find it, after several pauses to rest due to his general weakness and nausea, the operation was successfully completed.
After five days, Rogozov stopped having a fever, and two days later he removed the stitches. Two weeks later he was working normally.
Rogozov died in 2000 of lung cancer.
Video: The man who operated on himself.