Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-10

would you explain why you
think so? sG
DR.. Heaton--I think 1t will
improve his life expectancy be-
cause of the by-passing Of this
diseased area.
Q. That implies it has been
diseased for some time. Is that
so. Doctor?
DR.. Heaton-We will discuss
that later.
@. How soon can he see mem
hers of his stan to conduct busi-
ness?
DR.. Heaton-If everything goes
as we expect--Monday or Tues
day-first part of the week.
@. Does your reply with respect
to the Presidents physical con-
ditiOn, as to whether or not he
should run again, include all the
doctors at the table, or only
your own opinion?
DR.. Heaton-I am sure I speak
for all the doctors at the table.
@. What are you feeding him
intravenOusIy?
DR.. Heaton-At present he is
given glucose and water.
@. Doctor, will he have to wear
a supporter or a girdle or some
thing, for a time? (Laughter.)
DR.. Heaton-No, ma'am. We
hope not.
| @. They do?
@. Have you tried to eliminate
this obstruction before the Oper-
alton?
DR.. Heaton-We tried to elm
mate = cause the obstructing
segment to resume activity by
placing through the stomach a
Levine tube connected with a
Wangensteen suction apparatus
which is put through the nose
down to the stomach and acts
very effectively in certain cases
as a decompressing mechanism
@. Does it 60 only into the
stomach?
DR.. Heaton-Yes. ma'am.
@. How long was that tube in
for?
DR.. Heaton-It was inserted
Approximately IL hours.
@. Did you use relaxing drugs
with it?
DR.. Heaton-No, ma'am.
@. Were you partially success
full or not at all successful with
that method?
DR.. Heaton-We were not at
all successful.
@. Could you expand on the
Presidents condition after mid
night until the time it was de-
Icided to make the operation?
ask that for this reason: Before
midnight, il my facts are cor
rect, we were told that he had
no fever, he had stopped vomit'
ling and he required no ISOLATION
and his pulse was normal. Now
has there been something-did
something begin to deteriCfatt
quickly that caused you to OPP
crate suddenly at three O'Clock
lin the morning on a man Of hi:
age?
DR.. Heaton - The abdominal
distention became more progress
sive. The bowel sounds disap-
lpeared-were no longer heard
And in this report, as I noted
the third X-ray of the abdomen
showed progressive and unre-
Uniting obstruction.
@. Gen. Heat0n, what would
have happened If you had moi
operated, in your opinion?
DIR. Heaton-In these cases
one faces the possibility of a
compromise of the bowel prox-
limo to the obstruction which il
lunrelieved will or can produce
igangrene of the bowel, which in
turn is a very serious situation
@. What does the word "cOm-
promise" mean there-cOmprO
mise of the bowel?
/ DR.. Heaton-Comprolmise oil
the bowel means that the Cir
Iculation to the bowel. becomes
dangerously lessened in volume
@. Doctor, we were told yes
terday that you had rejected the
word critical" as descriptive OF
the Presidents condition; how
looking back on it now, how seri-
ously i'll would you say he was?
How would you describe it-as
a layman?
DR.. Heaton-Well, any intes-
final obstruction we regard as
serious until it is relieved.
@. You would say now he il
out of danger, or how would you
characterize It?
| DR.. Heaton-I would say that
at this time.
@. What is the past history Of
complications in similar cases
instances, or sOmething-at this
stage?
DR.. Heaton-At this age?
@. This stage, yes sir.
i DR.. Heaton-This stage? None
of any note.
] @. Gen. Heaton, may l ash
!, another question regarding the
! condition Of the diseased area:
By just looking at it and with.
out taking piece of tissue for
laboratory examination, could
you tell positively how important
ll-cOuld you tell positively thai
!. there was no humorous condition
lions Happy