A stuffed ‘two-headed’ dog is exhibited in the collection of the Biological Museum and represents the first experiment on transplantation of the entire complex of organs. The surgery was performed by Vladimir Demikhov, Doctor of Biological Sciences and one of the pioneers of transplantology.
The scientist started designing the concept of organs transplantation back in the 1940s. In 1946, Demikhov became the first person who successfully transplanted the second heart to a dog and then managed to replace the cardiopulmonary complex. In 1948, he started his experiments with liver transplantation and later managed to replace a dog’s heart with a donor’s one, which proved the possibility to perform such surgeries on humans. Demikhov in fact faced a significant problem which was the immune incompatibility of donor and recipient.
The scientist started designing the concept of organs transplantation back in the 1940s. In 1946, Demikhov became the first person who successfully transplanted the second heart to a dog and then managed to replace the cardiopulmonary complex. In 1948, he started his experiments with liver transplantation and later managed to replace a dog’s heart with a donor’s one, which proved the possibility to perform such surgeries on humans. Demikhov in fact faced a significant problem which was the immune incompatibility of donor and recipient.