Paul Georges Dieulafoy

Paul Georges Dieulafoy (November 18, 1839 – August 16, 1911) was a French physician and surgeon. He is best known for his study of acute appendicitis and his description of Dieulafoy's lesion, a rare cause of gastric bleeding. Dieulafoy was born in Toulouse. He studied medicine in Paris and earned his doctorate in 1869. Dieulafoy later became Chief of Medicine at the famed Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, taught pathology in the University of Paris, and was ... more

Paul Georges Dieulafoy (November 18, 1839 – August 16, 1911) was a French physician and surgeon. He is best known for his study of acute appendicitis and his description of Dieulafoy's lesion, a rare cause of gastric bleeding. Dieulafoy was born in Toulouse. He studied medicine in Paris and earned his doctorate in 1869. Dieulafoy later became Chief of Medicine at the famed Hôtel-Dieu de Paris, taught pathology in the University of Paris, and was elected president of the French Academy of Medicine in 1910. He died in Paris on August 16, 1911. He perfected a pump-like device for use in thoracentesis, and extensively studied pleurisy and liver conditions including hydatid disease and epidemic hepatitis. However, he is perhaps best known for his study of appendicitis. Dieulafoy described its early symptoms and clinical manifestations in detail, most notably the collection of symptoms now known as Dieulafoy's triad (more below), and was one of the first physicians to stress the importance... less