Michael E. DeBakey: A cardio-vascular surgeon whose innovations revolutionized the treatment of heart and blood vessel

Abstract

Michael Ellis DeBakey was a Lebanese-American cardiac surgeon and vascular surgeon, scientist and medical educator. After WW II, joined the faculty of Baylor University College of Medicine, serving as chairman of surgical department and hired surgeon Denton A. Cooley and revolutionized the management of cardiac and vascular diseases. His contributions in the development of roller pump for transfusion of blood directly from person to person which later became a component of the heart-lung machine. DeBakey’s surgical innovations included coronary bypass operations, carotid endarterectomy, aortic aneurysm surgery, artificial hearts, ventricular assist devices, vascular grafts (Dacron) saved thousands of lives and made him surgical immortal.