Harvey Cushing, padre de la neurocirugía contemporánea / Harvey Cushing, father of contemporary neurosurgery

RESUMEN

La neurocirugía como especialidad se inició en la segunda mitad del siglo XIX y su nombre se debe a la iniciativa del médico Harvey Cushing, quien, después de realizar un periplo por tierras europeas, regresó a Estados Unidos y se dedicó por entero a la cirugía del sistema nervioso. En el presente trabajo se señalan aspectos relacionados con su niñez y adultez, así como su ingreso en el Johns Hopkins Hospital, su participación en la Primera Guerra Mundial y su consolidación como neurocirujano entre los años 1912 y 1932; periodo en el que trabajó en el Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. También se destacan sus aportes a esta rama de la medicina y a otras, su sorprendente producción científica, integrada por 24 libros y 658 artículos, y sus diferentes galardones, entre ellos el Premio Pulitzer de 1926. Finalmente, se le reconoce su papel fundacional de la Society Neurological Surgeons, que luego adoptó el nombre Harvey Cushing Society y hoy es la American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Con estas páginas se persigue rendir tributo a este ilustre galeno, padre de la neurocirugía contemporánea.

ABSTRACT

Neurosurgery as specialty began in the second half of the XIX century and its name is due to the initiative of the doctor Harvey Cushing who, after carrying out a journey for European lands, returned to the United States and was entirely devoted to the nervous system surgery. Some aspects related to his childhood and adulthood are pointed out in this work, as well as his admission to Johns Hopkins Hospital, his participation in the First World War and his consolidation as neurosurgeon from 1912 to 1932; when he worked at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. His contributions to this branch of medicine and to other branches, his surprising scientific production, integrated by 24 books and 658 articles, and his different rewards, such as the Pulitzer Prize in 1926 are also remarkable. Finally, his fundational role of the Society Neurological Surgeons is recognized, that adopted the name Harvey Cushing Society and today is the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. The aim of these pages is to pay tribute to this distinguished physician, father of the contemporary neurosurgery.