A 25-bed neurosurgery clinic was opened in January 1929 at the Roentgen State Institute in Moscow under directorship of Professors Nikolay Burdenko, a surgeon, and Vassily Kramer, a neurologist. A separate research neurosurgery institute was established there by a special decree of Soviet government (Sovnarkom) in October 1931 (decree №1137 from 29.10.1931). This was followed by a decree of Russian Ministry of Health (NKZ RSFSR) in January 1932 (decree №18 from 09.01.1932). Professor Burdenko was appointed the Institute director, and Dr. Efim Rossels and Prof. Kramer were his deputies. De facto the Institute was opened in Spring 1934 as Central Neurosurgery Institute. It was transferred into a separate four-storey building for 100 beds.

The aim of this presentation is to analyze surgical activity of the neurosurgery clinic and the Institute from 1929 to 1941.

It is based on archival sources from Museum of the Burdenko Neurosurgery Institute including surgical logbooks and reports on surgical activity, and published materials.

Results. According to surgical logbooks there was a more than a threefold increase in number of surgeries (there were 120 operations in 1929 (not all of them were neurosurgical) and 369 operations in 1939). The mortality rate was high. For example, there were 34 cases of acoustic neurinomas operated on for 6 years (from 1929 to 1935); 13 of them died after surgery. Out of 28 patients operated on for cerebellar tumors only 11 survived. A detailed analysis of surgical activity from 1929 until 1941 will be provided.

Conclusions. Although postoperative mortality at the Central Institute for Neurosurgery in 1930-s was high, major surgeries for CNS tumors had been already performed there at this period.