René Favaloro
Encyclopedia
Dr. René Gerónimo Favaloro (July 12, 1923 – July 29, 2000) was an Argentine
cardiac surgeon
who created the technique for coronary bypass surgery
.
In 1967, René Favaloro became the first surgeon to perform a coronary bypass surgery on a patient suffering from Coronary artery disease. This procedure later developed into the most important technology
in coronary surgery.
. He was also big on owning pets. He loved his dog, Roberto, and Gaga, who were with him for ten years each.
Although in the beginning he had doubts about leaving his profession as a rural physician, he thought that he could make a greater contribution to the community when returning from the United States. With few resources and some rudimentary English, he decided to travel to Cleveland. He first worked as a resident and later on as a member of the surgery team, working with Donald B. Effler, head of cardiovascular surgery, F. Mason Sones, Jr., who was in charge of the Angiography Laboratory and William L. Proudfit, head of the Department of Cardiology.
In the beginning, the major part of his work revolved around valvular and congenital diseases; later on he became interested in other areas. Every day, having hardly finished working in the surgery room, Favaloro would spend hours and hours reviewing coronary angiogram
s and studying coronary arteries and their relation with the cardiac muscle. The Laboratory of Sones, father of the coronary angiography, had the most important collection of angiograms in the United States.
At the beginning of 1967, Favaloro began to consider the possibility of using the saphenous vein
in coronary surgery. He put his ideas in practice for the first time in May of that year. The basic principle was to bypass a diseased (obstructed) segment in a coronary artery in order to deliver blood flow distally. The standardization of this technique, called bypass
or myocardial revascularization surgery, was the fundamental work of his career, which ensured that his prestige would transcend the limits of that country, as the procedure radically changed the history of coronary disease. In 1970 he published a book called Surgical Treatment on Coronary Arteriosclerosis, and published it in Spanish with the name Tratamiento Quirúrgico de la Arteriosclerosis Coronaria.
In 1971 Favaloro, returned to Argentina with the dream of developing a center of excellence similar to the Cleveland Clinic
, that combined medical attention, investigation and education.
Bearing that in mind he founded the Fundación Favaloro
in 1975 along with other collaborators. He took great pride in having trained more than 450 residents from all over Argentina and the Americas
. Favaloro contributed to raise the standard level of his specialty in benefit of the patients through innumerable courses, seminars and conferences organized by the Fundación, among them the distinguished 'Cardiology for the Consultant' (Cardiología para el Consultante) held every two years.
In 1980 Favaloro established the 'Basic Investigation Laboratory' (Laboratorio de Investigación Básica), which was financed with his own money for a long timespan and which, at the time, depended upon the support of the Investigation and Teaching Department of the Fundación Favaloro. Subsequently it became the Institute of Investigation in Basic Sciences of the University Institute of Biomedical Sciences (Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas del Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Biomédicas) which in turn, was transformed into the Universidad Favaloro in August 1998.
In 1992 the nonprofit Favaloro Foundation Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery (Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular de la Fundación Favaloro) opened in Buenos Aires. With the motto "advanced technology at the service of medical humanism", this institute offers highly specialized services of cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and heart, lung
, cardiopulmonary, liver
, kidney
and bone marrow
transplants
, among other areas. Favaloro focused his career there, surrounded by a selected group of professionals. It should be mentioned that despite the immense costs of bypass surgery, Dr Favaloro operated on indigents on a daily basis, something that he felt was both a necessity and his obligation.
He kept his emphasis in disease prevention and promoting basic rules of hygiene to reduce mortality rate
. Bearing that objective in mind the Fundación Favaloro researches for illness detection, and prevention programmes. Also many different publications were made through the Centro Editor de la Fundación Favaloro (Publishing Center of the Favaloro Foundation), which ceased to operate in 2000.
The Favaloro Foundation is currently one of the largest institutions dedicated to cardiology in the Americas
.
Following his death, it was revealed that he had written a letter to Argentine President Fernando de la Rúa
, that had never been read, in which he expressed being tired of "being a beggar in his own country, and asked for De la Rúa's help to raise money to help the Foundation."
Even when his suicide is many times linked to the Foundation’s financial difficulties, the letter clearly shows Favaloro overwhelmed by the corruption of the health system and feeling he can’t fight against this powerful organization. In some parts of the letter, he refers to himself as “Don Quijote” depicting his lonely battle against the giants. Aggravating this situation was the fact that Dr. Favaloro never recovered from the death of his wife, his lifetime companion.
; the creation of the Chair of Cardiovascular Surgery "Dr René G. Favaloro" (Tel Aviv University
, Israel
, 1980); the distinction of the Fundación Conchita Rábago de Giménez Díaz (Madrid
, Spain
, 1982); the Teacher Prize of Argentinian Medicine (1986); the Distinguished Alumnus Award of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (1987); The Gairdner Foundation International Award, granted by the Gairdner Foundation (Toronto
, Canada
, 1987); the René Leriche Prize 1989, granted by the International Surgery Society; the Gifted Teacher Award, granted by the American College of Cardiology (1992); the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement (1993); the Prince Mahidol Prize, granted by His Majesty the King of Thailand (Bangkok
, Thailand
, 1999).
.
www.uottawa.ca/publications/interscientia/inter.3/favaloro/text.html
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
cardiac surgeon
Cardiac surgeon
A cardiac surgeon is a surgeon who performs cardiac surgery—operative procedures on the heart and great vessels.-Training:A cardiac surgery residency typically comprises anywhere from six to nine years of training to become a fully qualified surgeon...
who created the technique for coronary bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease...
.
In 1967, René Favaloro became the first surgeon to perform a coronary bypass surgery on a patient suffering from Coronary artery disease. This procedure later developed into the most important technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
in coronary surgery.
Thoracic surgery
Favaloro got interested in the developments on cardiovascular interventions, and developed an enthusiasm for thoracic surgery. At one visit to La Plata, he met Professor Mainetti, who pointed him in the direction of the Cleveland ClinicCleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Clinic is a multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The Cleveland Clinic is currently regarded as one of the top 4 hospitals in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report...
. He was also big on owning pets. He loved his dog, Roberto, and Gaga, who were with him for ten years each.
Although in the beginning he had doubts about leaving his profession as a rural physician, he thought that he could make a greater contribution to the community when returning from the United States. With few resources and some rudimentary English, he decided to travel to Cleveland. He first worked as a resident and later on as a member of the surgery team, working with Donald B. Effler, head of cardiovascular surgery, F. Mason Sones, Jr., who was in charge of the Angiography Laboratory and William L. Proudfit, head of the Department of Cardiology.
In the beginning, the major part of his work revolved around valvular and congenital diseases; later on he became interested in other areas. Every day, having hardly finished working in the surgery room, Favaloro would spend hours and hours reviewing coronary angiogram
Angiogram
Angiography or arteriography is a medical imaging technique used to visualize the inside, or lumen, of blood vessels and organs of the body, with particular interest in the arteries, veins and the heart chambers...
s and studying coronary arteries and their relation with the cardiac muscle. The Laboratory of Sones, father of the coronary angiography, had the most important collection of angiograms in the United States.
At the beginning of 1967, Favaloro began to consider the possibility of using the saphenous vein
Great saphenous vein
The great saphenous vein , also long saphenous vein, is the large superficial vein of the leg and thigh.The terms "safaina" and "el safin" have both been claimed as the origin for the word "saphenous."-Path:The GSV originates from where the dorsal vein of the first digit...
in coronary surgery. He put his ideas in practice for the first time in May of that year. The basic principle was to bypass a diseased (obstructed) segment in a coronary artery in order to deliver blood flow distally. The standardization of this technique, called bypass
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease...
or myocardial revascularization surgery, was the fundamental work of his career, which ensured that his prestige would transcend the limits of that country, as the procedure radically changed the history of coronary disease. In 1970 he published a book called Surgical Treatment on Coronary Arteriosclerosis, and published it in Spanish with the name Tratamiento Quirúrgico de la Arteriosclerosis Coronaria.
The creation of the Favaloro Foundation
Cleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Clinic is a multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The Cleveland Clinic is currently regarded as one of the top 4 hospitals in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report...
, that combined medical attention, investigation and education.
Bearing that in mind he founded the Fundación Favaloro
Fundación Favaloro
The Favaloro Foundation is an Argentine scientific institution dedicated to medical teaching and research...
in 1975 along with other collaborators. He took great pride in having trained more than 450 residents from all over Argentina and the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. Favaloro contributed to raise the standard level of his specialty in benefit of the patients through innumerable courses, seminars and conferences organized by the Fundación, among them the distinguished 'Cardiology for the Consultant' (Cardiología para el Consultante) held every two years.
In 1980 Favaloro established the 'Basic Investigation Laboratory' (Laboratorio de Investigación Básica), which was financed with his own money for a long timespan and which, at the time, depended upon the support of the Investigation and Teaching Department of the Fundación Favaloro. Subsequently it became the Institute of Investigation in Basic Sciences of the University Institute of Biomedical Sciences (Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas del Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Biomédicas) which in turn, was transformed into the Universidad Favaloro in August 1998.
In 1992 the nonprofit Favaloro Foundation Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery (Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular de la Fundación Favaloro) opened in Buenos Aires. With the motto "advanced technology at the service of medical humanism", this institute offers highly specialized services of cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and heart, lung
Lung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
, cardiopulmonary, liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
, kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
and bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
transplants
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
, among other areas. Favaloro focused his career there, surrounded by a selected group of professionals. It should be mentioned that despite the immense costs of bypass surgery, Dr Favaloro operated on indigents on a daily basis, something that he felt was both a necessity and his obligation.
He kept his emphasis in disease prevention and promoting basic rules of hygiene to reduce mortality rate
Mortality rate
Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time...
. Bearing that objective in mind the Fundación Favaloro researches for illness detection, and prevention programmes. Also many different publications were made through the Centro Editor de la Fundación Favaloro (Publishing Center of the Favaloro Foundation), which ceased to operate in 2000.
The Favaloro Foundation is currently one of the largest institutions dedicated to cardiology in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
.
Death
By the year 2000, Argentina was already submerged in an economic and political crisis, and the Favaloro Foundation was US$ 75 million in debt. Favaloro on repeated occasions petitioned the Argentine government to aid the Foundation, but he never received an official response. On July 29 of that year, Favaloro took the decision of committing suicide by shooting himself in the heart.Following his death, it was revealed that he had written a letter to Argentine President Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa is an Argentine politician. He was president of the country from December 10, 1999 to December 21, 2001 for the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education ....
, that had never been read, in which he expressed being tired of "being a beggar in his own country, and asked for De la Rúa's help to raise money to help the Foundation."
Even when his suicide is many times linked to the Foundation’s financial difficulties, the letter clearly shows Favaloro overwhelmed by the corruption of the health system and feeling he can’t fight against this powerful organization. In some parts of the letter, he refers to himself as “Don Quijote” depicting his lonely battle against the giants. Aggravating this situation was the fact that Dr. Favaloro never recovered from the death of his wife, his lifetime companion.
Recognitions and distinctions
Favaloro was an active member of 26 societies, corresponding of 4, and honorary of 43. He received innumerable international distinctions. The ones that stand out are: John Scott Prize 1979, granted by PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
; the creation of the Chair of Cardiovascular Surgery "Dr René G. Favaloro" (Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, 1980); the distinction of the Fundación Conchita Rábago de Giménez Díaz (Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, 1982); the Teacher Prize of Argentinian Medicine (1986); the Distinguished Alumnus Award of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (1987); The Gairdner Foundation International Award, granted by the Gairdner Foundation (Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, 1987); the René Leriche Prize 1989, granted by the International Surgery Society; the Gifted Teacher Award, granted by the American College of Cardiology (1992); the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement (1993); the Prince Mahidol Prize, granted by His Majesty the King of Thailand (Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, 1999).
Favaloro on television
Favaloro also participated in educational programming for the public, distinguishing himself in the television series The great medical themes, and in numerous conferences in Argentina and throughout the world on topics such as medicine, education, and modern society.Works by Favaloro
René Favaloro published more than three hundred works in his specialty. Owing to his passion for history, he also wrote two books about General José de San MartínJosé de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
.
- Surgical Treatment of Coronary Arteriosclerosis (1970)
- Recuerdos de un médico rural ("Memories of a rural doctor", 1980)
- ¿Conoce usted a San Martín? ("Do you know San Martín?", 1986)
- La Memoria de Guayaquil ("The memory of Guayaquil" 1991)
- De La Pampa a los Estados Unidos ("From La Pampa to the United States", 1993)
- Don Pedro y la Educación ("Don Pedro and education", 1994)
External links
- Favaloro Foundation (Spanish) - Spanish-language page about the investigation of the Fundación Favaloro, with a gallery of images, quotes, and an essay on Favaloro's legacy.
www.uottawa.ca/publications/interscientia/inter.3/favaloro/text.html
- Favaloro Foundation (English)
- Favaloro University (Spanish)
- Favaloro University (Wikipedia Article)Favaloro UniversityThe Favaloro University is an Argentine private university in the city of Buenos Aires. It was founded by surgeon René Favaloro in 1998; it obtained its definitive authorization on October 23, 2003 by decree 963/03 of president Néstor Kirchner...