Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-13
How to
STOP KILLING
YOURSELF
Suroery for Heart Patients
By DR.. PETER }. STEINcRoHN

Dear DR.. Steincrohn: have
been hearing of the value of
heart operations for coronary
patients. Do you recommend
them?-Mr. K. j."
Answer-Only a patients per-
sonal physician can answer that
question. One patient may be an
excellent candidate for opera
ton: another should. by all
means, continue with conserva-
tive medical treatment.
However, in a general way,
here are my opinions about OPP
erative treatment in coronary
patients. Ten years ago I would
have turned thumbs down on
such surgery. In view OF the
many recent favorable reports.
my mind is now open. I have
had patients of mine operated
on for valVular disease OF the
heart and the reSults-in most
cases - were astounding. For
example. l recall one woman OPP
Grated on in III her 40S whose
ankles swelled and who could
not walk a few steps without
breathing hard. For the past
few years she has been well
enough to work in a department
store.
/ have not had such person.
al experience with my coronary
patients. None have come to OPP
Grafton. But l have talked to
colleagues who have had a pa
tient or two operated and they
were enthusiastic about the re-
suits.
An article appeared recently
in the Journal Of Thoracic Sur
gerry on the subject written by
David S. Leighninger NJ. d. Of
Western Reserve University,
Cleveland. In a group Of pa
tients (83) operated upon be-
tween 1885 and 1853. the two
year mortality rate was 10 per
cent. But in 88 patients with an
gina pectoris not operated on,
the two-year mortality rate was
30 per cent. And in l03 patients
examined six months after oper-
alton it was learned that pain
was greatly reduced or absent
in 80 per cent of the patients.
Aids Heart Circulation
The operative technique used
was that of the Beck No. / opara-
ton. It's chief purpose is to
produce additional circulation to
the heart. How dangerous is
the operation? In a series of IS
cases the mortality rate was 6.6
per cent.
would not advise operation in
every patient with coronary
disease who was not improving
with conservative medical treat
ment. However. because of the
recent dramatic advances in
cardiac surgery. I would suggest
that such patients. ask their
doctor for consultation with a
qualified thoracic surgeon.
The Doctors Side of II
"Dear DR.. Steincrohn: Don't
you think that many people just
get into the habit of condemn
ing things and people? Take
doctors, for instance. 1t seems
TO be the fashion to be on their
backsl Everybody you talk to
berates them. I'd like you TO
put me down for one as thank
ing God that we can count on
one thing: No doctor who de-
serves the name will ever go on
strike if there's a sick man.
woman or child within reach. ]
wish you'd tell this to some of
your unthinking and unapprecia-
tive readers--Mrs. j."
Answer-Coming directly from
me, you might think me pre-
JUDGED. Therefore. let me quote
portions of a letter written to
the editor Of Medical News by
Walter l.. Palmer. MD. 1t is in
answer to the "impersonality" of
today's doctor-patient relation
ship. Here are the quotations:
Doctors are human, usually
harassed individuals working
longer hours than most other
people, rarely protected from the
ubiquitous telephone and the
endless demands OF patients. ra-
tional and irrational. which
must be met with patience and
answered with al least a smile
The physician of today is I
think, fully as humane as his
lorebears. A truly negative at
titude' will not attract patients
ann HENCE such mn irdividnai