The Early Days of Cardiac Surgery in South Asia: The History and Heritage

The 1.79 billion people of South Asia share common history and heritage. The fascinating stories of introducing cardiac surgery in this region would inspire the surgeons today. Information was collected for more than a decade from these countries through personal visits, interviews, and searching journals and the Internet. India was first to establish cardiac surgery chronologically, followed by Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan. South Asia did not lag far behind the Western world in commencing cardiac surgery. The pioneering surgeons deserve respect for their dedication and innovation overcoming the economic hardship and bureaucratic barriers ensuring service for one-quarter of the world's population today. (C) 2017 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons