Antyllus (2nd century A.D.)

Greek surgeon not only described aneurysms but developed an operation that would enjoy a renaissance almost 1,800 years later: making incision above the artery; dissect out the vessel; tie it closed on either side of the aneurysm; slit open the aneurysm to evacuate blood and any clot trapped inside it, pack the empty sac with wadding. : “This left a section of blood vessel permanently out of commission, but the body would soon compensate for the deficiency; besides, it was better than letting the aneurysm burst.” His near-contemporary, Galen, recommended compressing the aneurysm from outside the skin until it disappeared. In 1902, Rudolph Matas used Antyllus method to repair aneurysm of brachial artery: with ligatures above and below the aneurysm, he cut into sac and removed clot inside it, sealed off both ends with silk thread, and sewed up externa wound. His report of the case noted “he had merely been following the example of Antyllus,” with general anesthesia making the operation respectable once more (Morris, loc 1084ff)