The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-03
A RARE OPERATION.
Removing a Mans Kidney tt
Save his Life.
Heroic Treatment Of an Apparently
Hopeless Case.

An Evansville Qnd) dispatch says: For
the las ten months Joseph Whye, of Warrick
county, has been an inmate of the Evansville
city hospital He came to the hospital to be
treated for an intense jumping pain in his
left side, the cause of which was at first un-
known. Being carefully watched by the at
tending physicians, and having been given
special course of treatment for what was
considered to be Bright's disease Of the
Kidneys without avail, there was
nothing left 20 do but wait for
further symptoms These came after time
in small swelling which appeared IN the left
side, which, after it was first noticed, de-
veloped rapidly. The case was diagnosed
then as an abscess Of the kidney, and the
accompanying flow Of bloody pus which
comes at certain stage Of this disease, con-
6rmed it. The suppuration was exceedingly
prosuse, and was kept up by the flow OF
liquid through the kidney.
The disease is exceedingly dangerous and
the only chance which person afflicted has
is that when the abscess bursts it will not be
readily drained by the natural outlet. In
WIVES case, from the symptoms shown, it
was considered that the abscess was discharg-
ing slightly in the loins, and that In
short time the abdominal cavity
would be filled with virulent pus, which was
sure to set up a peritonitiS which could only
end fatally. A consultation was held in the
case at which all the local physicians were
present, and the conclusion was reached that
the only chance under the circumstances
which the patient had, was to remove the Of
Tending kidney.
This rare and difficult operation was per-
formed at the hospital yesterday afternoon.
It attracted all the local medical talent. After
the patient had been put under the lnf1u-
ence of an anesthetic, an incision was MADE
in the abdominal wall just below the umblll-
Gus, about six inches long. Great care was
taken not to lacerate the intestines, and dl-
rector was used when cutting through the
peritoneum. After the opening had been
made into the abdominal cavity, the intes-
tines were pushed aside and partly raised so
as to enable the surgeon to get at the diseased
kidney.
The kidney was found to be greatly swol-
len and adherent in many places to the sur
rounding tissue By delicate manipulation
the adhering surfaces were separated so that
the full extent of the kidney could be readily
felt and examined. 1t was found to be af-
fected in every part by the disease and
changed in color. It was hard and soft in spots
and its elements were evidently fast changing
into pus, large amount of which was found
In CQe aDuOIlluhl CdNlIy. 1uIo Woo ao oAASo
removed. Keeping the neighboring internal
organs out of the way, the surgeon gradually
worked the kidney upward until it
was brought into favorable ,po-
sition for cutting The appendage which
united it to the other organs was unusually
thick, and it required several cuts with scis-
sors to sever it. The kidney was then re-
moved from the body, while the blood spurted
from the laceratsd arteries into the abdom-
inal cavity.
The bleeding points were picked up after
much difficulty. and the arteries were liga-
tured, after the patient had lost q large
amount of blood from hemorrhage The abb
dominal cavity was then carefully washed
out with an antiseptic solution and every
trace of the irritating pus removed: An ex-
animation was made also of the other
kidney. It was found in healthy enough
condition to do double duty. The intestines
and other organs being properly returned to
position, the opening in the abdoman was
closed by silver and catgut sutures and the
wound bandaged with antiseptic dressings.
The patient rallied from the attending shock
and appeared to have chance of recovery.