Trendelenburg, Friedrich (1844–1924)

German physician who introduced a number of innovations into surgery. He devised an operation to cut out varicose veins, (1890), invented a cannula (a tube for insertion into the body; 1873), and was the first to attempt the surgical removal of a pulmonary embolism (1908), an operation first successfully performed in 1912.

Trendelenburg was born and studied medicine in Berlin. He was professor of surgery at Rostock 1875–82, at Bonn 1882–95, and at Leipzig 1895–1911. He is also remembered for introducing ‘Trendelenburg's position’ (1890), in which the patient lies face upwards and the pelvis raised at an angle of 45°; this is used in gynaecological surgery, as it keeps the intestines clear of the field of operation.