In Memoriam: Professor Keyvan Moghissi, BSc, MD, MS (Chir), FRCS (Ed) FRCS (Eng) FETCS, Membre (Étranger) de Académie Nationale de Chirurgie (Paris). Emeritus Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon June 22, 1927 to November 13, 2025

It is with great fondness that we remember and celebrate the life of Keyvan Moghissi, who died at the age of 98 years on November 13, 2025. Professor Keyvan Moghissi. He is perhaps better known to us all as one of the Founding Fathers of EACTS, serving as the Association’s second President from 1987 to 1988. Keyvan was born on June 22, 1927, in Tehran, the capital of what was then called Persia, as the second of 6 children. Keyvan began medical school in Tehran but moved to Geneva in 1947 to complete his undergraduate medical studies. He became a House Surgeon in London and did his cardiothoracic training in Southampton and at London’s Hammersmith, Harefield, Great Ormond Street Children’s and Middlesex Hospitals, before being appointed as a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon in Castle Hill Hospital, Hull, in 1970. This was a time before coronary artery bypass grafting was as commonplace as it is today. Thanks to the sponsorship of a grateful patient, Keyvan took a 2-week leave of absence to visit Dr Floyd Loop at the Cleveland Clinic and learn the technique, before performing the first CABG at Castle Hill Hospital in 1976. Above all, his primary interest was in Thoracic surgery, and he published widely in all aspects of the specialty. As a Senior Registrar, Keyvan was one of the first surgeons to publish the long-term results of the original Ravitch procedure for correction of pectus excavatum, indicating that despite excellent early results, many patients developed recurrence of their deformity over a longer period. This led to the modification of the original operation to include the placement of a substernal bar to provide additional support to the reconstruction.1 Historically, the commonest indication for correction of a pectus excavatum is cosmetic. One of Keyvan’s patients was referred specifically to prevent the man in question from receiving a custodial sentence, for he was repeatedly brought before the court for assaulting others who teased him about the shape of his chest. The success of this operation could be measured in the many years that the patient remained a free man. This is just one of Keyvan’s memorable patients, many of whom have been chronicled in his memoirs.2,3 Keyvan was a pioneer in laser surgery of the chest, holding the appointment of Honorary Professor in Laser/Engineering at the University of Hull, and was Chairman of the Moghissi Laser Trust charity. Never truly retiring, for almost 30 years after he finished in Castle Hill hospital, he pushed the boundaries in the use of photodynamic therapy to treat inoperable advanced malignancies of the oesophagus and airway.4 He maintained a strong affiliation with the British Medical Laser Association, founding and serving as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy. Keyvan was a true visionary who, amongst others, appreciated the strengths associated with a strong link with Europe, and indeed beyond. In 1979, he organized the first meeting of the European Thoracic Surgical Club, held at Castle Hill Hospital. Arguably, this was the forerunner to the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He was also the co-founder of the British Oesophageal Group. Keyvan received many honours during his career, including the Membre (Etranger) de l’Academie Nationale de Chirurgie (Paris), as well as an Award for Lifelong Contribution to Cardiothoracic Surgery from the World Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He received numerous honorary memberships and visiting Professorships internationally. Outside of the operating room, Keyvan was a prolific author, with published works extending beyond the realms of surgery. “Persian Fables and Fairy Tales”5 was published in 2020. His latest autobiographical book, “In My Memory”,6 was published 2 months before he died. Keyvan was a first rate violinist, studying under renowned Iranian composer and violinist, Abolhasan Saba. Keyvan met and married Elsie, affectionately known as L’alec, an English nurse, in 1950, who predeceased him in 2021. He is survived by his son, Alex, a retired GP, daughter-in-law Sirpa, and grandchildren Mico and Jonny. No new data were generated or analysed in support of this research.