A “DARNING EGG”

Evening Star, Issue 23679, 12 September 1940, Page 12

A “DARNING EGG”

FOUND FOR VEIN SURGERY Development of a method of blood vessel surgery in which sugar rods are used, as ‘‘darning eggs ” in sewing together the delicate tissues has been announced at the University of Chicago, says the ‘ New York Times.’ The announcement accompanied the award of the Harry Ginsburg Memorial Prize to Sidney Smith, jun., university medical student who developed the method which, scientists believe, promises to simplify an extremely difficult operation. Still in its experimental state and thus far confined to animals, the method provides a means of suturing ruptured blood vessels so simply that scientists said any competent surgeon could use it. The technique is similar to one worked out more than 30 years ago by Dr Alexis Carrel, then visiting professor of physiology at the university. THE SURGICAL EGG. When a housewife darns a torn sock, she places a “ darning egg ” behind the ,

hole to hold the fabric taut for stitching. With Mr Smith’s surgical technique the two ends of the artery are threaded on to a slender rod of sugar coated with a thin film of bland oil to support the tissues. Thus held together, the two ends can be sewn with “ over-and-over " stitches. Different sized rods are prepared for different sized arteries..

When the clamps have been removed and the blood flow resumes, the sugar rod dissolves in 10 to 15 seconds and the circulation proceeds normally. “ The technique of blood vessel surgery as developed earlier was so different that it has been little used,” said Dr Anton .1. Carlson, physiology professor, under whose direction Mr Smith de yeloped the method.

Dr Carlson said the technique haa application for three fields of surgery—r repairing accident cases, removal of emboli, blood clots which block circulation, and further explorations in experimental research surgery. Mr Smith, who plans to take his M.D. degree from Rush Medical College soon, is 28 years old, married, and an experienced aeroplane pilot.