Charles Drew

Charles Edwin Drew (15 December 1916 – 31 May 1987) was a British cardiothoracic surgeon best known for assisting Sir Clement Price Thomas in King George VI's pneumonectomy in 1951.

He went on to conduct pioneering research on profound hypothermia in cardiac surgery and what came to be known as the 'Drew technique'.

Drew died from throat cancer at the age of 70 in 1987, leaving his wife Doreen and two children.

Early life Born in Lambeth, 15 December 1916, as the eldest son of Edwin Frank Drew, an accountant, and Eunice (née Lloyd-Davies), Drew started his education in Stockwell. He then went on to Westminster City School, where, in 1938, he won the Bulkeley prize. During World War II, he became surgeon lieutenant RNVR in 1942, one year after he had graduated. A porthole provided an escape route when his ship was sunk in the Mediterranean and he was able to continue his duties thereafter. By the end of the war, Drew had been promoted to surgeon-commander.

Surgical career Drew completed his junior surgical posts at Westminster hospital, where he also formed close associations with G. T. Mullalley and Sir Clement Price Thomas. He became surgical chief assistant at the Brompton Hospital and then consultant surgeon to the Westminster and St George's Hospitals.

King George VI lung operation On 23 September 1951, he assisted Price Thomas, along with Peter Jones, with the pneumonectomy on King George VI. On removal of the king's tumour, Drew and his colleague Jones closed the chest. Later in his career, he performed the same operation on Price Thomas for the same disease.

The Drew technique Drew was the first to use the technique of profound hypothermia in open heart surgery.

His operating equipment is on display at the Science Museum, London.

Awards Drew was invited to present the Hunterian lecture at the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1961. His presentation followed the framework of his research, 'Profound Hypothermia in Cardiac Surgery'.

Personal life Drew enjoyed sailing, gardening, and water polo. He was also interested in cricket and football and he rowed for University of London.

He married Maureen Pittaway in 1950. She was a sister at Queen Alexandra Royal Naval Nursing Service. They had two children.

Later life Later in life, Drew became a keen gardener and fisherman. In addition, he developed an interest in crosswords.

Following retirement, Drew was diagnosed with pharyngeal cancer, which required surgery and radiation. The cancer recurred and he died at home on 31 May 1987.