Sergei Brukhonenko

Sergei Sergeevich Brukhonenko (Also transliterated as Bryuchonenko, Bruchonenko, Briukhonenko, Brykhonenko, Briukhanenko, Brychonenko, or Brjukhenenko.) witnessing numerous combat injuries while assigned to the active army as a junior physician. He returned in 1917 to work in Moscow. During 1919 to 1926, Brukhonenko was the assistant professor at the Department of Clinical Pathology and Therapy in Moscow.

Brukhonenko's work in creating the autojektor, an early heart–lung machine, was displayed in a series of experiments with canines in 1939. These experiments are shown in the 1940 documentary film Experiments in the Revival of Organisms, directed by .

While the film is commonly suspected to be a re-staging of the procedures, as none of the more scientifically questionable experiments are shown in full-frame shots, the experiments in question were documented thoroughly. Additionally, the film's claim that dogs had been drained of blood and revived to live for years after was found to be only partially true, as according to the lab records the dogs survived for only days after the experiment, not years as the film claimed, and suffered serious brain damage.

Brukhonenko led the Institute of Experimental Surgical Devices and Instruments from 1951 to 1958. Following his experiments with canines, Brukhonenko was granted permission to continue his autojektor experiments with human cadavers. However, these experiments failed to produce encouraging results, resulting in Brukhonenko losing favor with Soviet leadership.

Brukhonenko died 20 April 1960 from rectal cancer.

His experiments laid the groundwork for further advancements in cardiac surgery in the Soviet Union.

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