The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-19
OPERATION FOR
HEART AILMENT
MAKES HISTORY
Patient Resting Easily After
Surgical Step to Relieve
Angina PeCtOriS.
BY DAVID DIETZ
United Press star Correspondent

United Pres. star Correspondent
pCopvrizht. 1888. BY United PTsssl
CLEVELAND. Feb. I9.-Medical
history has been made at Lakeside
Hospital here with performance Of
the first operation in history for
relief OF angina pectOris, a heart
Riimeut which in the past has been
regarded as incurable and even
tually fatal
The operation. Il becaTae known
today. was performed last TTednes-
day by DR.. Claude S. Beck. surgeon
az Lakeside Hospital. a unit Of the
University Hospitals group. and as
sistant professor OF surgery at the
Western Reserve University Afedi-
cal School
The patient was resting easily
today.
The procedure was based upon
laboratory investigations carried
out upon animals by DR.. Beck since
1882.
Feel Justified in Step
officials Of the hospital felt justi-
fed in trying the operation upon
human being because Of the sue
cessful record Of the experiments
and because the patient in question
had suffered several severe attacks
IN the days preceding the operation
so that his death was regarded as
a matter OF DAYS. if not hours. I'M
less the operation was tried upon
him.
Medical men believe that in all
probability the operation will be-
come known as one Of the most
important medical discoveries Of re-
cent times. Within the last few
decades sudden heart attacks have
rolled up an appalling death rate.
Angina pectoriS is a disease OF
old age. usually striking men and
women past 50. No day passes
without its victims. Often the VIC
time is an important man who has
reached the peak Of his career A
sudden heart attack killed eX-
President Calvin Coolidge.
Angina pectOris is a form Of sud-
den heart attack attended with
severe pain. Sometimes the first
attack is fatal. Often the victim
suffers many attacks over a period
Of months or years. There are
other forms OF heart attacks which
likewise strike the patient with
great suddenneSs.
Means Much to World
TIE new operation marks the
first attempt to take a definite step
10 protect the patient against such
attacks. II it proves as successful
as present indications suggest. it
will mean as much 10 the world as
the discovery of a cure for cancer.
To understand the new operation,
it is necessary TO understand the
workings Of the heart and the
causes Of the sudden attacks.
The heart is enclosed in a sort Of
sack or pouch called the pericar-
dunn with which it has no direct
connection Large arteries and
veins enter the TOP Of the heart.
forming its only connection with
tie rest Of the body.
The heart itself IS a muscle and
as such must be nOuriShed by a
supply Of blood. This it receives
from the cOrOnary arteries. the first
small arteries to branch of the
aOrta. the large artery into which
the heart pumps the blood supply.
Cuts Down Blood Supply
Angina pectOriS is caused by a
hardening and thickening Of the
cOronary arteries. This cuts down
the supply Of blood to the heart
muscles. Eventually these arteries
become entirely closed of and then
death results.
Other conditions associated with
hardening Of the arteries. as for
example. the formation of a blood
clot and its Judgement in one Of
the coronary arteries, may cause
sudden death.
The new operation, in essence.
consists in giving the heart a new
source Of blood supply TO cOmpen-
safe for the loss OF blood OccaSiOned
by thickening or blocking Of the
COrOnary arteries.
In the case Of dogs. the pericar-
dunn was opened and a layer Of fat
which ordinarily occurs around the
pericardiUm was attached TO the
heart.
Pectoral Muscle Cut
This fat in the dog is rich in
small blood vessels. II was found
that these became enlarged and
supplied blood 10 the mus. IS Of the
heart. In this connection. il is in
tereSting TO note that the heart has
a remarkable capacity for adjusting
itself to new conditions. Thus for
example. in certain types OF heart
disease, such as leaky valves. the