Russian Biologist Vladimir Demikhov (1916–1998) and his Contribution in the Research of the Problem of Vital Organs Transplantation

Sergey P. Glyantsev

A.N. Bakulev NMRCCS, Moscow, Russia

Date, time and location: 2018.05.26 08:30, Exhibition area, 1st Floor. Zone – D

Abstract

Objective.Vladimir Demikhov (1916–1998) is known throughout the world as a pioneer in the transplantation of vital organs in an experiment.However, his contribution to this problem is not clearly established and not evaluated.
Methods.The archival documents and Demikhov’sscientific publications were used.

Results.In different years Demikhov created some models of vital organs (heart and lungs):1) an isolated heart (without lung) transplanted anatomically into the orthotopic position to replace the biological one (model ofsubstitutivecirculation);2) a second, additional, isolated heart transplanted into the heterotopic position in bypass the left ventricle (model of ancillary circulation);3) the second, additional, isolated (or with a lobe of the lung) heart worked parallel to the biological organ (model of parallel circulation);4) the second, additional, isolated (or with a lobe of the lung) heart, providing blood supply to one of the halves of the trunk (model of separate blood circulation);5) a heart with two lungs transplanted to the orthotopic position to replace biological organs;6) cardiopulmonary complex with pulmonary and coronary circles to maintain contractility of the donor heart during its transfer to the chest;7) isolated (without the heart) the middle or lower lobe of the lung transplanted to the orthotopic position (the whole lung or two lungs Demikhov did not transplant);8) the lobe of the lung with the heart, used to reduce the number of vascular anastomoses, and as a toils for embolus.All these models were tested in experiments and descriptions in Russian (1960), English (1962), German (1963) and Spanish (1967).
Conclusions. During Demikhov's life, for various reasons, most of these models were not introduced into the clinic.Nevertheless, the analysis showed that the ideas of their creation played a certain role in the research ofthe problem of transplantation of vital organs.