Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-08-21
WIRED
PATIENTS
AORTA
Twenty Feet of Silver Wire COlIed In
Great Artery

says:
INA ture and silver wire 20 feet
long have saved the life of Fred
Williams at the end of one of the
most remarkable operations on re-
cord. It was for aneurism of the
aorta and was performed upon Will
liams in the Medico- Chirurgical hos
pital, Philadelphia, by DR.. James H.
Mann.
The aorta is the great parent
trunk artery through which blood is
distributed from the heart to the
smaller arteries which run TO all
parts of the body. An aneurism is o
weakening of the walls of a blood
vessel. 1t arises frequently as a
consequence or rheumatism and
figures largely as a cause of death
In the vital statistics OF every city.
The usual treatment for aneurism is
the removal of the affected portion
of the blood vessel and the tying OF
the free ends of the artery. When
this has been done a compensatory
circulation Is set up by the blood ves-
sells near the one that has been re-
moved, and no serious results fol-
low
In the case of an aneurism of the
aorta, however, such an operation Is
impossible. No artery or series of
arteries cen do the work of this
great blood canal. The only thing
to be done in such n case Is to
strengthen the artery wall and let
nature 60 the rest.
Williams, who Is 39 years old and
q man Of immense vitality, several
months ago noticed a swelling on his
breast and went to hospital for
treatment. The young resident sur
geon looked at II critically and said
Il was q boil He applied local
anesthetic and prepared to lance the
lump.
Hold on therel" cried Williams
"I don't want any operation yet"
II was lucky ho stayed the young
surgeons hand. Had he not done
so, It seems certain death would have
resulted almost Immediately.
The sufferer went to the Medlco'
ChirurgIcal hospital. After several
days of preparation he was placed
upon the operating table without
having been etherlzed. A hollow
needle was plunged in TO the aorta
and through this the silver wire was
fed from a spool. The wire was
about as thick as No. 60 cotton
thread. There was little pain and
Williams aided the surgeon by HIS
stoiclsm.
Go as far as you like, doctor"
he said, as the operation was begun.
The blood pressure, had been re-
duced to the minimum by long stay
In bed and by starvation diet. As
the wire was fed into the great blood
vessel II coiled itself closely in the
form of a cylinder which fitted exact
ly the inner surface of the affected
part. Then the needle was with
drawn and the little wound made by
It was dressed.
The process that was then set up
in the weakened part was this. The
blood clotted over the wires and
"organizod," a new wall, strengthen
ing that which had been weakened
/ by the rheumatic growth. The efii-
caey of this Organization" depends
upon the general condition Of the pa
tient and the quality OF his blood.
The operation upon Williams was
performed two months ago. Last
week he came into the hospital with
blood trickling from a pin-point hole
in his chest. Again he was placed
upon the operating table. The blood
was found TO be coming from q
wound from which protruded the tip
OF a silver wire. With infinite care
the whole strand was taken out.
Then, to the amazement of every
body, the bleeding stopped. There
as every indication Williams is now
absolutely we'll and that the new
inner coating OF the aorta is sum
eiently strong to reinforce the weak
ened tissue that lies outside It.
81 feel as well as ever did In my
life and work every day withou'
fatfgua +" said Williams today.