A case of total laryngectomy (unsuccessful) and a case of abdominal hysterectomy (successful) : in both of which massage of the heart for chloroform collapse was employed, with notes of 25 other cases of cardiac massage / by W.W. Keen.

  • Keen, William W. (William Williams), 1837-1932.
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A case of total laryngectomy (unsuccessful) and a case of abdominal hysterectomy (successful) : in both of which massage of the heart for chloroform collapse was employed, with notes of 25 other cases of cardiac massage / by W.W. Keen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    a quarter of an hour breathing returned, and the first perceptible systole was ob- served. This had been preceded by irreg- ular vermiform twitching of the muscle of the heart. The first contraction and firm consistence of the heart muscle fol- lowed directly as a result of hot com- presses, which during the compression of the heart were quickly and constantly changed and applied to the heart. The patient also had applications of hot towels and a hot enema. A half-hour after laying bare the heart—that is, one and one-quar- ter hours after disappearance of all signs of life—-the heart was beating regularly and strongly. Breathing returned, the pupils were normal, his color was good, his radial pulse could readily be felt. The pericardium, therefore, was closed with a continuous catgut suture; the slightly bleeding walls of the thorax were closed with tamponage. Two hours after the termination of the operation the patient became conscious, and complained of great thirst and dyspnea. Respirations 60, pulse 144. Camphor, salt solution, with some alcohol, etc., were used, and the condition of the patient remained about the same for twenty-four hours. His speech was indistinct, but not unintelligi- ble. After this time he collapsed, and after suffering with great dyspnea died three hours after return of unconscious- ness. The necropsy showed a firm contrac- tion of the heart, a right fibrinous peri-