Amputation without anesthetic – The painful history of surgery | DW Documentary
The history of surgery can be traced back to the Stone Age. Today, surgical methods have undergone countless revolutionary developments—and save innumerable lives every year.
Archaeological evidence shows that surgical procedures were already being performed in the Stone Age. In the Inca Empire and Ancient Egypt, skulls were also opened to remove foreign bodies or treat pain. Over the course of thousands of years, surgical methods have been revolutionized. From the first medical teachings and surgical experiments in ancient times to complex organ transplants and brain surgery, this has been a long road full of suffering, mistakes, and medical dead ends.
To solve the mystery of how the human body works and to be able to perform major operations, doctors had to overcome numerous obstacles and take great risks. Quite a few patients and doctors paid for the development of new treatment methods with their lives. With outstanding archive material and international interview partners, the film tells the story of surgery. A fascinating journey from ancient times to heart transplants and minimally invasive robot-assisted procedures.
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Video “Amputation without anesthetic – The painful history of surgery | DW Documentary” was uploaded on 12/10/2025 by DW Documentary Youtube channel.