Surgeons, Saints and Psychopaths: The Epic History of Heart Surgery

‘My book on heart surgery is like a thriller, but the body count is enormous,’ says the author about his fourth book.
Stephen Westaby is uniquely qualified to tell the story of heart surgery, having practised the specialty for more than fifty years and witnessed many of the breakthroughs in heart surgery not only with his own eyes, but also through his direct involvement.
Don’t anticipate a narrative filled with glory and success — Westaby doesn't hide the truth, recounting not only the great discoveries but also the failures that led to the deaths of patients.
Honest, incredibly interesting, and very personal, this book is the story of a lifetime's work. You’ll discover the evolution of the medical science in the past 200 years and humanity's transition from surgery without anaesthesia to implantable devices that support the heart's pumping function.

Stephen Westaby. Surgeons, Saints and Psychopaths: The Epic History of Heart Surgery/ Translated from English by Olga Lyashenko. Editor Daria Abanina. — Moscow: Bombora, 2024.