Surgeon Sage Sushruta

Khushaal Mishra

Surgeon Sage Sushruta

Were you aware of the fact that the first plastic surgery in the world was conducted by Sage Sushruta, an Indian surgeon? Almost 2600 years ago. This ancient Indian physician, known as the "Father of Surgery," devised and taught approximately 300 operations. But where did Sushruta's idea of surgery come from, and how did he manage these?

Sage Sushruta, the first Surgeon; Image Source: The Inner World

Hessler and Muller both translated the Sanskrit writing into Latin around the beginning of the nineteenth century. Sushrut Samhita and its author, Sage Sushruta, gained widespread notoriety in this manner, although his name and value faded over time. Kaviraj Kunja Lal of Kolkata translated Sushruta Samhita into English in 1907. However, the translation did not gain enough attention. When the world began to look at Ayurveda in a new light in the twentieth century, they recognised the significance of Sage Sushruta's medical expertise and contribution to surgery.

Sushruta Samhita is regarded as one of the most important works of ancient Indian medical literature. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art houses one of the manuscripts from the Sushruta Samhita written on palm leaves. In mediaeval India, Sushruta brought new meaning to the art of surgery. The year 620 BCE is regarded as the "Golden Age of Surgery." The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons erected a monument of Sushruta on their campus in 2018.

American surgeon Allen Ripple, inspired by Sushruta's unparalleled expertise, stated

"All in All, Sushruta must be considered as the greatest surgeon of the pre-medieval period."

Sushruta is a person with an excellent reputation. Sushruta was a sage, and rightfully so. His contributions to the advancements of Indian medical knowledge are valuable.

The Indian subcontinent is known to house intellectuals since time immemorial. One such intellectual who lived in the ancient city of Varanasi was Sage Sushruta. Before then, intellectuals were known as sages or Maharishi, and Sushruta was one of many. He learned medicine from Kashiraj Divodas, the monarch of Kashi, and later became a physician. He treated soldiers who were injured on the battlefield. Sushruta was inspired to do surgery after seeing the plight of the troops. He would use surgery to heal any damaged or injured parts of the body.

Sushruta, who worked with love and devotion, established a scientific skill such as surgery, which was a novel notion of its time. He is also known as the "Father of All Surgery" for these reasons. With the invention of surgery, the need to arrange surgical devices also arose.

It has been said that need is the mother of all inventions. Sushruta created 121 surgical devices with this need in mind. He was the first surgeon in the world to accomplish so. These innovations shed light on his knowledge and endurance. The punishment for any illicit crime back then was to cut off the criminal's nose. Sushruta created Rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, to rebuild a broken nose. He was also the first cataract surgeon, treating a variety of eye ailments. He detailed his expertise in a Sanskrit script, known as the Sushruta Samhita. This Sanskrit script describing surgical procedures is one of the three foundations of Ayurveda and a chapter in the Atharva Ved. The Sushrut Samhita describes how Sushruta dissected a corpse and studied it without using a knife.

His approach to understanding human anatomy was as follows. He would submerge the deceased body in water and allow it to decay, and he would see the rotting body as time passed. This is how he analysed the body's structure, layer by layer. This procedure aided Sushruta in developing sophisticated operations such as Caesarean, abdominal, and brain surgery.

Sushruta Samhita Chapter 1.16 covers nose reconstruction surgery or Rhinoplasty in depth. Sushruta is also a Cataract surgeon. It is detailed in one of Sushrut Samhita's volumes named Uttartantra. To current surgeons, this procedure resembles extracapsular lens extraction. However, Sushruta accomplished this operation without the use of modern tools, demonstrating his abilities.

Sushruta Samhita was written in 600 BCE. In 800 AD, an Arab translation brought this remarkable Sanskrit writing about surgery and medicine to the world's attention. Kitab Shah Shun Al – Hindi and Kitab - I - Susurud were the titles.