Ludwik Rydygier

Ludwik Rydygier (21 August 1850 - 25 June 1920), Polish surgeon.

Born in Dusocin village near Grudziądz, which that time was part of Prussia after partitioning of Poland. Since childhood he accented his Polish roots.

Between 1859 and 1861 he was learning in gymnasium in Chojnice, then also in gymnasium in Chełmno, which he graduated in 1869. In years 1869-1878 he studied medical sciences in Greifswald.

After studies he was running a private clinic in Chełmno. There he wrote many of his papers in the field of surgery.

In 1887 he was appointed to work at surgery faculty at Jagiellonian University in Kraków. In 1897 he was asked to lead new surgery faculty and clinic at Lviv University, which he agreed. He was at his time one of the most distinguished Polish and worldwide known surgeons. In 1880, as first in Poland and second in the world he succeeded in surgical removal of pylorus from patient suffering from stomach cancer. He was also first to document this procedure. In 1881, as the first in the world, he carried peptic ulcer resection. In 1884 he introduced new method of surgical peptic ulcer treatment using Gastroenterostomy. Rydygier was also inventor (1900) of original conception of removing prostatic adenoma and many other surgical techniques.

He was dean of Medical Department and in years 1901-1902 rector of Lviv University. He was mentor to many splendid surgeons, future professors. In year 1889 he organized first in Poland surgeon conference. Those conferences led to establishing of Polish Surgeon Society. He didn't leave Lviv, even when he was offered to move to Charles University in Prague. He was outstanding surgeon, well known for his practical achievements, as well as initiator of new methods, talented organizer. Some of his ideas, which include introduced by him methods of operating stomach, anus cancer, amputations, plastic, orthopedic and cardiothoracic surgery, urology, are successfully used to date.

During First World War he led military hospital in Brno. After war he immediately returned to Lviv. There he fought against Ukrainians in November 1918. He was promoted to general of Polish Army. In 1920 he started organizing military hospitals.

Unfortunately, he died that year suddenly. At first he was buried at Łyczaków Cemetery, later he was moved to officer part of Cemetery of the Defenders of Lwów.

Ludwik Rydygier