Thomas Addis Emmet, the Vesicovaginal Fistula, and the Origins of Reconstructive Gynecologic Surgery

Thomas Addis Emmet (1828–1919), the foremost pupil of J. Marion Sims and his successor as chief surgeon at The Woman’s Hospital in New York City, was probably the pre-eminent American gynecological surgeon of the last quarter of the 19th century. Among his many achievements were the first critical study of vescovaginal fistula repair, authorship of the first modern scientific textbook of gynecology, the invention of numerous special surgical instruments, pioneering the use of surgical scissors in vaginal operations, and the development of ‘staged’ procedures for surgical reconstruction of the vagina. He was an active writer, a renowned collector of American historical documents and memorabilia, a devout Catholic and a steadfast Irish patriot. This article reviews his life and contributions to gynecologic surgery.