From British Medical Journal:

As a surgeon Rogozov had no difficulty diagnosing acute appendicitis.In this situation, however, it was a cruel trick of fate. Heknew that if he was to survive he had to undergo an operation.But he was in the frontier conditions of a newly founded Antarcticcolony on the brink of the polar night. Transportation was impossible.Flying was out of the question, because of the snowstorms. Andthere was one further problem: he was the only physician onthe base.