Evening star., 1952-09-30
Doctor Warns
Of Using Drug
In Heart Attacks
Says Anti -CooguIonts
Shouldn't Be Given
In Non-Serious Coses
By John McKeIwoy

Anti-coagulant drugs are VAL
liable in treatment of acute heart
attacks, but they should not be
used in non-serious heart cases, a
New York physician said today.
Speaking at the second session
of the 23d District Medical Society
Assembly at the Statler Hotel. DR..
Henry I. Russek of the Sea View
Hospital in Staten Island pointed
out that heart attack patients
usually are rushed to the hospital
within a few hours for the admin
istration of the drugs-believed to
prevent blood clots in the heart.
DR.. Russek said the highest
death rate in acute coronary
thrombosis prevails during / the
first 48 hours after an attack.
In one investigation. he said, IS
per cent of acute cases died within
"a hours of the initial attack. .
I'm most instances" he said.
"any form of treatment deemed
can usually be initiated
in the patients own home"
Drugs Are valuable.
The doctor also said that there
is strong evidence that anti-coag-
ulant drugs are now a valuable
in the treatment OF
heart cases.
I'm severely i'll patients such
therapy should be administered
early and intensively." but the doc
tor added that the drug should be
withheld from non-serious heart
cases because the mortality rate
from hemorrhage caused BY these
drugs appears to be in excess OF
the preventable mortality.
The doctor said that the age OF
the patient should not determine
whether or not the drug should
be used, but only the severity OF
the case. disqualification should
be delayed in acute heart cases
because of the dangers faced in
transporting the patient.
District surgeons were urged
yesterday to exercise more dis
cretion in decisions to perform op-
erations which end women's abil-
ity to bear children.
This plea was voiced by DR..
Irene A. Koeneke Of the Hertzler
Clinic, Halstead, Kans.
Practice Too Prevalent.
DR.. Koeneke told her colleagues
that drastic surgery. completely
destroying the normal child-bear-
ing processes, too often is per-
formed.
frequently, she said, patients
are eager for such operations. And
too often, surgeons comply with
these wishes rather than meeting
the body's medical needs. she said.
Whenever possible" DIR. Koe-
neke said, "the surgeon should re-
tain as much of the sex processes
as he can" The surgeon who
fails to do so, she added, deserves
no better than Ito live with her
the rest of his life"
In addition to the discussion on
pelvic surgery. the doctors yes
terday heard talks on the rela-
tionship of gastric ulcers to can
Ger. Difficulties in determining
stomach cancer and new tech
niques of diagnosis were stressed.
Tonight, at the annual assem-
bly's only public meeting, citizens
of the area will view scientific ex-
hibits at the hotel. The exhibits
will be open from z to 8:15 o'clock.
Visitors will have a chance to
hear what their heart sounds like,
or to read how a surgeon once
removed an infected carbuncle
from his patient-Gen. George
Washington.
At 8 pm, the public Is also
invited to q meeting on heart
disease. The meeting will be held
in the Presidential Ballroom of
the hotel.
Among other public exhibits are
those on alcoholism, cerebral
palsy. helps for hearing, home ac-
cidentS and vision testing.
The assembly will continue
through tomorrow. Some $500
physicians are attending the
event.