SURGICAL TRIUMPH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 226, 17 September 1908, Page 4

SURGICAL TRIUMPH

MUKE IMJUiI FOB. THE 11EA11T. A very remarkable operation has been performed at one of the large general hospitals ill Jiomlon (says llie Daily Telegraph), which, if ultimately successful, will open up yet another lieid for the daring skill of the twentietSi century surgeon. This operation was .suggested for the relief of pain due tu heart disease, and was devised according to the following argument:— The pain in this particular case was associated with that form of heart disease, which leads to an enormous enlargement of the heart, ami which may produce the condition we know as ".bullock-heart " —the •the. ''caruoviunm " of the older physicians. It was supposed that the .attacks of pain were duo to the ell'orts of the enlarged heart to beat in the eonlined space allotted to it in the chest. It did not require very great reasoning powers to argue that if the imprisoned heart could be given freedom of action, its beat would be mole effective, and the pains would probably cease; but it certainly required considerable daring to suggest an operation for this purpose, and still greater pluck to carry it out. However, the situation was fully '!*■ plained, and the risks of the operation pointed out to the patient, who willingly gave his consent to undergo it. In spite of the heart disease, be took the anaesthetic well, and stood the strain and shock of the operation much better than might have been expected. The surgeon actually removed 4 1 /, inches of the 'fifth rib, and »'/» inches of the sixth rib on the left side, so as to give the enlarged heart greater freedom of action, and the result up to the present (July 15) lias been excellent. The patient ' states that lie is quite satistied wilh the results of the operation; he lias obtained relief from pain, and his hitherto restless nights have been succeeded bv night, in' quiet and uninterrupted sieep.