Alexander Brunschwig

Background

Brunschwig, Alexander was born on September 11, 1901 in El Paso, Texas, United States. Son of Felix and Pauline (Harris) Brunschwig.

Education

Bachelor of Science, University of Chicago, 1923, Master of Science, 1924. Doctor of Medicine Rush Medical College, 1927. Post graduate work, Strasbourg, and Paris, France.

M.D. (honorary), Laval U., Petroquest Energy, Canada. Doctoris Honoris Causa. U. Strasbourg (France), 1959, University of Montpellier, University Bordeaux.

Career

He died in 1969 at the age of 67 of coronary disease. Brunschwig developed pelvic exenteration surgery, which removes major organs from the patient's pelvic cavity. He performed 847 procedures, with a death rate similar to those of others later with more modern anesthesia.

Pelvic exenteration is controversial, because it is one of the most aggressive and disfiguring surgeries used in oncology, and has not been subject to controlled clinical trials. In 1963, Brunschwig maintained that cancer of the uterine cervix, microscopically looked like a viral disease. That has since been proved.

He was in the forefront of implantation of the ureters and construction of substitute bladders from segments of the colon. He worked with Alexander A. Maximow and William Bloom on their Textbook of Histology. Obituary: Classics in Oncology ( a detailed review of his life and contributions).

Membership

Served as Lieutenant (junior grade) United States Navy, 1926-1927. Fellow American College Surgeons, International College Surgeons (honorary), American Surgical Association. Member medical and professional societies various foreign countries.

Member Society Clinical Surgery, Society U. Surgeons, American Medical Association, Society Pelvic Surgeons, New York Cynecol. Society, Academie de Chirurgie Paris.

Connections

Married Lea Naye, June 16, 1926. Children: Louise (Mistress Paul Sivak), Roxane (Mistress Bruno Pavia).

Father:

Felix Brunschwig

Mother:

Pauline (Harris) Brunschwig

Spouse:

Lea Naye

child:

Roxane Brunschwig (Mistress Bruno Pavia)

child:

Louise Brunschwig (Mistress Paul Sivak)