The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-06
Surgeon Saves a Life by a
Wonderful Operation.
SIX INCHES WERE REPLACED.
The Large Blood Vessel In the Thigh Sue
cssstuIIy Repaired and G,ngrsns Stopped
Work Of q Russian.

Among the marvels OF modern surgery
is the device OF Russian surgeon, who
has repaired the great femoral artery.
lie spliced to it an artificial length. just
as a plumber might solder piece OF
leaden pipe to a brass one,
III vein Is cut the blood escapes for
while and after little the vessel lies fat
and collapsed. An artery does not. Its
inner coat is so arranged tfrat series Of
stin, fbrous rings surround IL and prevent
IL from collapsing. That is one OF the
reasons why when an artery is severed
blood continues to flow from Il
This was only one OF the problems
which confronted Dr. Kaintsky when they
brought 10 his hospitai in st. Petersburg
very rich farmer and cattle raiser
named Ivan Poltinkosh. This man while
driving in a sleigh. had collided with a
stump. He was hurled out violently
and in falling was impaled upon a broken
branch. The jagged piece of wood struck
him just below the hip joint and ranged
downward for about four inches.
The wound produced was an exceeding
over and in line with the femoral artery,
which supplies the entire leg with blood;
but. although this great vessel was entire
ly laid bare and badly bruised, IL fortu-
nately escaped puncture.
The injured man was not taken TO the
hospital until three days after the acct
dent and II was at once evident 10 DIR.
Kaintsky that only heroic measures
would save either life OF leg TO his pa
faaf . ,.a1 Pet. ~
gangrene was threatened. AS nearly as
the surgeon could estimate he had just
three days before an operation became
absolutely imperative. He had already
determined upon the heroic operation
OF removing the injured part OF the re-
moral artery and replacing II with an
artificial substitute.
DR. kaintsky wanted to make a tube six
inches long. which should so closely re-
semble the actual tissue OF human
artery that IL would be borne without pro-
test by the organism in which IL was 10
be placed. At the end OF those three
days DR.. Kaintsky. tired. but triumphant,
emerged from his laboratory.
Under the best conditions the dissec-
ton OF the femoral artery is a dangerous
piece OF work, and here was a case where
the vessel was almost concealed by In
Jured tissues. At last the artery was
freed and the surgeon showed his won
dering assistants that nearly four inches
OF the vessel was ready to disintegrate.
All eyes watched DIR. Kaintsky as he him.
self placed clamps upon the big artery.
The artery clamp having been fixed DR..
kalntsky cut away about -four inches of
the artery From the pocket in front OF
his operating gown DR. Kaintsky drew "a
silver aseptic case. This ne opened and
from IL drew small hollow elastic al
most colorless tube, about five inches
long. Almost Immediately DR. Kaintsky
began 10 place the artificial artery I'm pos
iton. He drew IL between his fingers so
as to expel all air. and placed a pair of
artery forceps upon one end Then he
slipped one end of the artery into the
tube and stitched IL into place.
Quickly the same procedure was car
ried out at the other end. and then DIR
kaintsky removed the clamp which was
holding back the blood from the nended
artery. The blood rushed through it's new
channel, pumping out the collapsed tube
and IL was actually difficult to tell tbe
artificial artery from the real one Ar
the same instant, too. good healthy
pulsation could be felt in the patients
ankle.