Surgery is the oldest discipline of medicine. The first Poland's University Chair of Surgery was established in the 18th century. Surgery that had been until then the domain of barbers became a clinical discipline. In the 19th century Polish surgeons were actively involved in the development of gastrointestinal surgery. Most famous among them, J. Mikulicz Radecki and L. Rydygier. They invented novel surgical techniques used for the treatment of many diseases. Their achievements contributed to creating Polish school of surgery, that was further developed throughout the 20th century. The progress in gastrointestinal surgery has been continued in the 21st century in spite of existing economic barriers.