Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery
From the pioneering work of Galen on Roman gladiators to the latest advances in plastic surgery, this five-part series illustrates the evolution of surgical techniques—a story as much of mishaps and misadventures as it is of successes and amazing advances. Filmed in America and Europe and presented by the charismatic and medically trained Michael J. Mosley. Contains surgical scenes of a graphic nature. A BBC Production. 5-part series.
Cast: Michael Mosley
Season 1
5 episodes
1. Into The BrainA look at the area of the body where surgery has been most frightening - the brain.
Just over 100 years ago, cutting into the brain was a terrifying prospect for both patient and surgeon. They could expect the result to be the surgeon bloodied and defeated, and the patient dead. From freak accidents involving crowbars through the skull to notorious lobotomies with icepicks, this programme reveals how, through mishap and misadventure, brain surgery has become the life-saving discipline it is today.CC1 h 0 minAug 20, 2008
2. Bleeding HeartsMichael Mosley has a go at heart surgery and meets a man with no heartbeat.
With a family history of heart problems, presenter Michael Mosley takes a personal interest in these pioneers, who teetered on the scalpel-edge between saviour and executioner. Michael has a go at heart surgery, meets a man with no heartbeat and witnesses an operation where the patient is cooled until their brain stops and has all of their blood sucked out.CC1 h 0 minAug 27, 2008
3. Spare PartsTransplant surgery development, from a Nazi sympathiser to new life-saving operations.
These days, transplant surgery saves thousands of lives every year and almost everything, from heart to eyes, can be replaced. But in the beginning, transplants killed rather than cured, because surgeons didn't understand that they were taking on one of the most efficient killing systems we know of - the human immune system.CC1 h 0 minSep 3, 2008
4. Fixing FacesMichael Mosley examines plastic surgery, from 16th-century bondage to 21st-century botox.
Thought of as a modern phenomenon, it actually started over 400 years ago with a spate of botched nose jobs. Since then, surgeons have been entranced with the idea that not only could they fix the body, but could even fix our sense of self-esteem.
Presenter Michael Mosley undergoes both 16th-century bondage and 21st-century botox in his journey of discovery.CC1 h 0 minSep 10, 2008
5. Bloody BeginningsHow surgery was dragged out of the dark ages, transforming from butchery into a science.
Presenter Michael Mosley finds out how the early days of surgery were dark and barbaric, when the surgeon's knife was more likely to kill you than save you, and invasive medicine generally meant being bloodlet by leeches to within an inch of your life.CC1 h 0 minSep 17, 2008
Viewers also watched
Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery
From the pioneering work of Galen on Roman gladiators to the latest advances in plastic surgery, this five-part series illustrates the evolution of surgical techniques—a story as much of mishaps and misadventures as it is of successes and amazing advances. Filmed in America and Europe and presented by the charismatic and medically trained Michael J. Mosley. Contains surgical scenes of a graphic nature. A BBC Production. 5-part series.
Creators and cast
- Cast
- Michael Mosley
Maturity rating
Not yet rated.
Audio languages
English
Where to watch
Not currently listed on any streaming, rental or purchase service.
Details and artwork from TMDB. Availability from JustWatch and can change without notice.
