Ephraim McDowell performs the first ovariotomy, 25 December 1809

Background. Ephraim McDowell, an American surgeon based in Danville, Kentucky, is recognized as the first person to successfully remove an ovarian tumor. Prior to 1809, abdominal exploration attempts typically resulted in fatal peritonitis. McDowell's successful operation on Jane Todd Crawford established him as a pioneer in abdominal surgery.

Procedure. McDowell operated on Jane Todd Crawford in Danville, removing an ovarian tumor without anesthesia. This event is cited as the first successful laparotomy and ovariotomy in the world. The operation was performed on Christmas morning, 1809, following a call to see the patient in Green County.

Legacy. McDowell is often called the 'father of ovariotomy' due to this successful procedure. His work was published in 1817. The site of the operation, his house in Danville, is now a museum, and a statue in Kentucky depicts the tumor removed from Jane Crawford.