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

AAeAN eAe-~N NO@I eeN~@O 1922
Snyder has had less than all Of
us. But they did all want to
come down here and discuss the
Presidents case with you.
must remind you that they
are doctors and not politicians.
In introducing them, on my
lett is DR.. Isidor Ravdin, John
Ray Barton Professor of Surg
cry, University Of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine, chairman
of the Board Of Regents Of the
American College Of Surgery
and a member of the American
Surgical Association.
On my right is Maj. Gen.
Leonard D. Heaton, command
ing officer of Walter Reed, and
the only Army surgeon in the
United States that is a member
of the American Surgical Asso-
citation, which is composed OF
235 surgeons.
DIR. HeatOn Takes Over
On my extreme right. Maj.
Gen. Howard Snyder, the Presi-
dents personal physician and
a fellow of the American Col
lege of Surgeons since 1922.
I will now turn this meeting
over to the doctors, and Or
Heaton has a statement which
he will read slowly.
DR.. Heaton: Ladies and gentle
men, the post-opeyative condi-
ton of the President is excellent
and we have every expectation
of a normal convalescence. We
look for a rapid and complete
recovery and feel that he will re-
turn to his good health in Q
short period of time.
During the coming week he
should be able to sign ofticiaI
papers and carry on those func-
.tions of the Government which
are necessary.
We should like to establish
here that his cardiac condition
had no relationship to this pres
emit illness. We do not expect
his heart in any way to aftect
his convalescence.
You ladies and gentlemen know
as we'll as / that there is M
relationship between leitis anC
malignant disease. I want vol
to know that there was nothing
suggesting a malignant, disease
found at operation.
Fairly Common Disorder"
neitis is a nonspecific inf1am'
matory disease of the ileum o
unknown origin. This diseas'
is more commonly found in
younger-aged groups. 1t is
fairly common disorder and il
probably much more common
than is diagnosed.
DR.. Berrill Crohn, after whom
this disease is sometimes called
has stated, and we agree, tina
lit is not a dangerous disorder.
DR.. Groin has also stated thai
when necessary, and this occurs
infrequently, the disease can b
readily circumvented by surgery
During the pre-operative OBJ
servation of the President hert
at Walter Reed, every oppor.
tunity was given this condition
to correct itself. And it also gave
us an opportunity during thi'
interim to restore his electrolytC
and fluid balance.
@. How did you do it?
Mr.. Hagerty-Let the doctor
continue reading the full state
ment and then we will go Il
questions.
DR.. Heaton: The third series o.
X-rays of the abdomen which
we're taken about l am. Thu
morning, demonstrated continu
ing and unrelieved intestinal OBJ,
struction, despite all corrective
measures.
Therefore, surgery was decided
upon.
At operation, the pre-opera
tive diagnosis of ileitis with OBJ
struction was confirmed.
No other complications wer,
present.
The involved area of about Il
inches of the terminal ileum wa
bypassed. thus relieving the OBJ
struction.
1 will illustrate what I meal
by this, after 1 finish the mex
report.
The abdomen was closed with
out drainage. The President
cardiac condition remained nor
NAL throughout the procedur
and he left the operating tabl
in excellent condition and ha
remained so as previously re
ported.
@. That is the end Of the state
ment?
DR.. Heaton-Yes sir.
Mr.. Hagerty-That is the en-,
Of the statement.
DR.. Heaton-(At the black
board, with a diagram alread
sketched out)-This diagram
will show you what we founl
upon opening the President
abdomen.
Observation-Disclosures the ter
minal ileum. going into tn
large intestine which start
here-Iindicatingl. This termi
nal ileum. as I stated, was in
volved for approximately tel
inches with this disease. There,
fore, a bypass was effected o
this diseased area which wa
left in situ-in place-by con,
Meeting the small intestine
which was normal in every way
to the right half Of the larg,
Intestine, thus giving us thi
vent or bypass, as you see herr
(indicating).
@. Nothing was removed
doctor?
DR.. acknowledging was re
moved.
@. How large is the abdOmi