Rudolph Matas
Encyclopedia
Rudolph Matas a prominent and innovative surgeon
was born outside of New Orleans in Bonnet Carre
, Louisiana
, on September 12, 1860. Matas spent much of his childhood in his parents' native land of Spain, returning to the New Orleans in 1877 to begin his medical training at the Medical School of the University of Louisiana, now known as Tulane University School of Medicine
, receiving his medical degree in 1880 at 19 years old. Dr. Matas is one of Tulane's most distinguished alumni, with 42 years of teaching in the medical school and a vast array of accomplishments decorating his medical career.
He was the first to use spinal anesthesia in the United States
in 1889, the developer of the intravenous drip technique, of suction, of siphonage in abdominal operations, and the first to surgically repair aneurysm
s. Furthermore, he was the first to perform a Kondoleon operation for elephantiasis
in the US. Many of his publications continue to be cited through the 2000s. 1 William Osler
called him the "Father of Vascular Surgery." He was a founding member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery
, and a member of its first council in 1917, serving as its third President in 1919. The Rudolph Matas Award in Vascular Surgery is considered the "world's premier recognition for surgery of the heart and blood vessels." 2, During World War I
, he led the United States School for War Fractures (AATS: Council Meetings).
Matas contributed a great deal to New Orleans, including directing the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal, actively supporting the Charity Hospital (New Orleans), and working as Professor of Surgery at Tulane University
. He was named by the Times-Picayune as one of the individuals that defined New Orleans in the 20th Century. The school's surgical interest group is named in his honor, Rudolph Matas Surgical Society, as is the Rudolph Matas Health Sciences Library, Tulane's medical library. Ironically, the journal Science
stated at the time that "his colleagues have felt for many years that by consulting him they could extract more information from his encyclopedic mind than they could obtain from a visit to a library" (Science, 1934).
In Isidore Cohn's 1960 book, it was revealed that William Stewart Halsted
had operated on Matas for "a mass" in 1903. The story of Matas' "secret operation" circulated in New Orleans for many years. On Matas's death, the autopsy revealed the right testicle had been removed surgically many years ago (Nunn, 1992). Dr. Matas died on September 23, 1957, at the age of 97, leaving his estate to medicine.
Rudolph Matas Elementary School in Metairie
, Louisiana is named in his honor.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
was born outside of New Orleans in Bonnet Carre
St. Charles Parish, Louisiana
St. Charles Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Hahnville. In 2010, its population was 52,780. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century, this was part of the German Coast, an area along the Mississippi River settled by numerous German pioneers in the...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, on September 12, 1860. Matas spent much of his childhood in his parents' native land of Spain, returning to the New Orleans in 1877 to begin his medical training at the Medical School of the University of Louisiana, now known as Tulane University School of Medicine
Tulane University School of Medicine
The Tulane University School of Medicine is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA and is a part of Tulane University. The school is located in the Medical District of the New Orleans Central Business District.-History:...
, receiving his medical degree in 1880 at 19 years old. Dr. Matas is one of Tulane's most distinguished alumni, with 42 years of teaching in the medical school and a vast array of accomplishments decorating his medical career.
He was the first to use spinal anesthesia in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1889, the developer of the intravenous drip technique, of suction, of siphonage in abdominal operations, and the first to surgically repair aneurysm
Aneurysm
An aneurysm or aneurism is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and an aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart...
s. Furthermore, he was the first to perform a Kondoleon operation for elephantiasis
Elephantiasis
Elephantiasis is a disease that is characterized by the thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs and male genitals. In some cases the disease can cause certain body parts, such as the scrotum, to swell to the size of a softball or basketball. It is caused by...
in the US. Many of his publications continue to be cited through the 2000s. 1 William Osler
William Osler
Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet was a physician. He was one of the "Big Four" founding professors at Johns Hopkins Hospital as the first Professor of Medicine and founder of the Medical Service there. Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet (July 12, 1849 – December 29, 1919) was a physician. He was...
called him the "Father of Vascular Surgery." He was a founding member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery
American Association for Thoracic Surgery
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery is an international association of cardiothoracic surgeons. It was founded in 1917 by the earliest pioneers in the field of thoracic surgery. Headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, it has over 1,200 members from 35 countries...
, and a member of its first council in 1917, serving as its third President in 1919. The Rudolph Matas Award in Vascular Surgery is considered the "world's premier recognition for surgery of the heart and blood vessels." 2, During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he led the United States School for War Fractures (AATS: Council Meetings).
Matas contributed a great deal to New Orleans, including directing the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal, actively supporting the Charity Hospital (New Orleans), and working as Professor of Surgery at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
. He was named by the Times-Picayune as one of the individuals that defined New Orleans in the 20th Century. The school's surgical interest group is named in his honor, Rudolph Matas Surgical Society, as is the Rudolph Matas Health Sciences Library, Tulane's medical library. Ironically, the journal Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
stated at the time that "his colleagues have felt for many years that by consulting him they could extract more information from his encyclopedic mind than they could obtain from a visit to a library" (Science, 1934).
In Isidore Cohn's 1960 book, it was revealed that William Stewart Halsted
William Stewart Halsted
William Stewart Halsted was an American surgeon who emphasized strict aseptic technique during surgical procedures, was an early champion of newly discovered anesthetics, and introduced several new operations, including the radical mastectomy for breast cancer...
had operated on Matas for "a mass" in 1903. The story of Matas' "secret operation" circulated in New Orleans for many years. On Matas's death, the autopsy revealed the right testicle had been removed surgically many years ago (Nunn, 1992). Dr. Matas died on September 23, 1957, at the age of 97, leaving his estate to medicine.
Rudolph Matas Elementary School in Metairie
Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
, Louisiana is named in his honor.