Rutkow I M
Surgery. 1979 Apr;85(4):441-50.
Valentine Mott was one of the most eminent physicians of the first half of the 19th century. Recognized as a pioneer vascular surgeon, he is credited with having performed at least eight original surgical procedures. Included within his lifetime operative record are ligations of the innominate artery, the common and external carotids, the right subclavian artery, the common, external and internal iliac arteries, the femoral artery, and the popliteal a;tery for the treatment of aneurysmal disease. In addition, he was highly regarded for his innovative approach to venous problems. This is most remarkable in that all of this work was done prior to the discovery of anesthesia, antisepsis, and the use of transfusions. Through research, utilizing primary archival and secondary source material in the form of previously unpublished manuscripts, correspondence, and background information, a biography of his life is presented. When his many surgical successes are placed in proper historical perspective, Valentine Mott can truly be called the Father of American Vascular Surgery.
