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Updated: Aug 4, 2026
06:57
Transaxillary First Rib Resection for Treatment of the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Published on: September 13, 2020
Samuel Robinson, pioneer thoracic surgeon (1875-1947)
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|June 1, 1986
Summary
Pioneering thoracic surgeon Sam Robinson advanced surgical techniques for bronchiectasis and pneumothorax, including the innovative Sam Robinson
Area of Science:
- Thoracic Surgery
- Medical History
Background:
- Sam Robinson, a Harvard Medical School graduate, trained at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and worked with Walter Cannon.
- He gained early experience abroad with Ferdinand Sauerbruch before returning to Boston.
- Robinson performed one of the first successful lobectomies for bronchiectasis in 1909.
Discussion:
- Robinson developed crucial techniques for managing pneumothorax during surgery, exemplified by 'Sam Robinson's box'.
- He served as the inaugural Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Mayo Clinic from 1915 to 1917.
- His career shifted to general surgery in Santa Barbara due to illness, likely bronchiectasis.
Key Insights:
- Contributions include positive pressure ventilation, early resection techniques, artificial pneumothorax for tuberculosis, and empyema management.
- Held leadership roles, including President of the Association for Thoracic Surgery in 1922.
- Authored vivid accounts of early thoracic surgery practices.
Outlook:
- Robinson's work laid foundational principles for modern thoracic surgical procedures.
- His writings offer valuable historical insights into the evolution of the specialty.
- Continued relevance of his contributions to managing complex thoracic conditions.
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