Vladimir Petrovich Demikhov (Russian: Владимир Петрович Демихов; Born 31 July 1916  was a prominent Soviet Russian scientist recognized as a pioneer in the field of organ transplantation. During the 1940s and 1950s, he conducted several groundbreaking transplants, including the implantation of a heart into an animal and a heart-lung replacement in another. He is particularly noted for his experiments involving dog head transplants in the 1950s, which resulted in the creation of two-headed dogs. His innovative work significantly influenced subsequent research, including the head transplants performed on monkeys by Robert White, who drew inspiration from Demikhov's pioneering efforts. 

Vladimir P. Demikhov conducted the first experimental intrathoracic transplantations and coronary artery bypass surgery in the world. His achievements marked the beginning of the modern era of heart and lung transplantation, as well as the surgical management of coronary artery disease. Despite being recognized as one of the foremost experimental surgeons of the 20th century, his relative isolation on the international stage led to various speculations, assumptions, and myths surrounding his work. Paradoxically, his controversial transplantation of a dog's head garnered more attention than his groundbreaking thoracic surgical procedures, making him a target for criticism. 

Demikhov was born in the village of Yarizenskaia, located in the Voronezh region of Russia, to a poor family. His father ,Pyotr Demikhov was killed in the Russian Civil War. His mother, Domnika Alexandrovna, was a woman of remarkable determination despite her limited education, was committed to ensuring that all three of her children received a higher education. In 1934, Demikhov departed from his home in to pursue a degree in biology at the University of Moscow. Upon his arrival, he encountered his first obstacle: the university mandated that all newly admitted students submit a photograph of themselves dressed in a white shirt and necktie. Lacking both the garments and the financial means to acquire them, Demikhov's predicament was resolved by a resourceful photographer who superimposed the required attire to his photograph. While the photo may have appeared satisfactory at the time it was altered, it would now be deemed unacceptable by contemporary standards.

Voronezh State University is notable for being the institution where, in 1937, Demikhov developed the first artificial heart in the world, which he successfully implanted into a dog that lived for two hours post-surgery. A detailed account of this pioneering achievement was published in the university's student newspaper in April 1938 and subsequently presented to fellow students at a scientific conference the following month. Afterward, he moved to the Biology Faculty of Moscow State University, where he authored his first scientific paper and graduated with distinction in August 1940.

Shortly after completing his studies, Demikhov was drafted into military service and became a soldier in the Red Army. When the Soviet Union entered World War II in June 1941, he served on the front lines as a forensic expert and pathologist, and he also spent time in China following the Soviet declaration of war against Japan in 1945. Upon returning home at the war's conclusion, he was decorated with several medals and military honors. In August 1946, he married Liya Nikolayevna, and their daughter Olga was born in July 1947.

Following the conclusion of the war, Demikhov returned to his position in the human physiology department at Moscow State University, where he continued his experimental investigations, ultimately achieving successful heart and lung transplants in warm-blooded animals. In 1947, he transitioned to the Institute of Surgery in Moscow, where he initiated experiments on liver and kidney transplantation during the late 1940s.

Throughout the 1950s, he focused on advancing organ transplantation surgery, consistently refining his experimental methodologies. In 1951, he successfully executed an isolated orthotopic heart transplantation in a dog, ensuring the heart was properly positioned within the thoracic cavity. The survival rates improved significantly, extending from mere hours to several weeks, with one dog that underwent a heart transplant in 1953 living for an additional seven years post-surgery. In 1953, he accomplished a successful mammary–coronary artery anastomosis after previous unsuccessful attempts the year before. Additionally, Demikhov established the foundational principles of myocardial revascularization, which allowed him to conduct the first experimental coronary artery bypass operation. His overarching goal was to facilitate the application of organ transplantation in clinical settings for human patients.

In February 1954, in what can be considered one of his most unusual and controversial experiments, he performed a head transplant on a dog, connecting the vascular system to the heart of the host dog. Despite facing significant criticism from his peers, he persisted with this line of research, achieving increasing success over time. His transplantation efforts garnered extensive media attention within the Soviet Union, where they faced ongoing ethical scrutiny. However, it was not until the late 1950s that information regarding his experiments began to circulate internationally. By the time American surgeons learned of Demikhov's dog head transplantations in 1959, he had already been conducting these operations for five years. Demikhov successfully produced multiple two-headed dogs, living for 29 days, several survived for a duration of two years.

Emikhov introduced the term "transplantology" to refer to organ transplantation in his 1960 monograph titled Experimental Transplantation of Vital Organs, which earned him his doctoral degree. This work was subsequently translated into English in 1962, German in 1963, and Spanish in 1967, establishing it as a highly influential resource for medical professionals exploring the nascent field of organ and tissue transplantation. For an extended period, it remained the sole monograph addressing this topic.  

Demikhov bacame a member of the Sklifosovsky Institute of Emergency Medicine in 1960, where he served until his retirement in 1986. His primary objective was to advocate for the integration of vital organ transplantation into standard surgical practices, utilizing "revitalized" (living) organs instead of artificial alternatives. Initially, Demikhov's concepts faced significant skepticism; however, he maintained composure and adeptly addressed the inquiries posed by his detractors. Eager to disseminate his insights and discoveries, he welcomed medical professionals from around the globe to observe his experiments in his laboratory. During the 1960s, American physicians began to take notice of his groundbreaking techniques, as many traveled to the Soviet Union to observe the work of Soviet surgeons. By 1962, the perspective of the American medical community had evolved, gradually embracing the potential for successful human organ transplantation.

Among his notable admirers was South African cardiac surgeon Christiaan Barnard, who, after studying Demikhov's experiments, became convinced of the feasibility of human heart transplantation. Barnard visited Demikhov's laboratory in Moscow on two occasions, in 1960 and 1963. Inspired by his observations, he successfully conducted the world's first heart transplant operation between two individuals in 1967. He later acknowledged Demikhov's pioneering experiments as instrumental in this achievement, referring to him as "The father of heart and lung transplantation.”

Demikhov's desire to update his 1960 monograph was thwarted by a stroke that resulted in memory loss.. In April 1998, he was readmitted to the hospital due to a recurrent stroke, which left him paralyzed and led to the development of pneumonia. The passing of his wife, Lia, on 11 July profoundly affected him, and he was unable to recover from this grief. Although he was discharged from the hospital after several months, he remained confined to his bed. Demikhov passed away at the age of 82 on November 22, in his modest apartment located on the outskirts of Moscow. Despite receiving several accolades later in his life, including a USSR State Prize, the significance of Demikhov's experiments was not fully recognized in Russia until the year of his passing, when he was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 3rd class, shortly before his death.

The enigma surrounding Vladimir Demikhov lies in his relentless pursuit of the unknown, consistently advancing beyond the prevailing norms of his era. His pioneering efforts elicited considerable unease among both the general public and the medical community. Perspectives on his work fluctuated significantly over time. Immediate evaluations proved challenging, as his experiments were deemed too novel and unconventional. While some of his peers recognized his contributions as groundbreaking within the realm of surgical research and were keen to engage with him, others dismissed his endeavors as fanciful or unrefined, hesitating to acknowledge any connection to him. 

Regardless of the diverse responses to Demikhov's accomplishments, his contributions fostered a conviction in the seemingly impossible for certain individuals. It is only through the lens of time that the significant impact of his innovations can be truly appreciated.