Scientific developments of the Department of Military Field Surgery of the Military Medical Academy that were ahead of their time (on the occasion of its 95th anniversary)

The article, dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Department of Military Field Surgery at the Military Medical Academy, substantiates the need to rethink the historical legacy of the Russian military medical school in the context of modern challenges. Over the course of its 95 years of existence, the department has been a recognized scientific, medical, and educational center for military field surgery in our country. Despite the widespread recognition of individual names, a systematic analysis of the groundbreaking developments that have shaped global standards for trauma care over the decades has yet to be presented in a comprehensive review. The authors fill this gap by demonstrating that the fundamental concepts, from staged treatment to damage control tactics, were proposed by the department's staff long before they were rediscovered by their foreign colleagues. The paper consistently highlights the contribution of V.A. Oppel's school to the development of a staged evacuation system, the refutation of the neuroreflex theory of shock, the emphasis on the leading role of blood loss, and the formation of the concept of traumatic disease. Special attention is given to the priority of Russian surgeons in the field of angio-traumatology, the creation of unique medical equipment, and the implementation of endovascular technologies. The final part of the review introduces the reader to little-known theoretical generalizations linking surgery with physics and catastrophe theory, as well as with modern approaches to the use of artificial intelligence and remote technologies. Reading the article allows for a new assessment of not only the historical role of the department, but also its key importance for the formation of modern military medical doctrines in the context of current armed conflicts.