GREAT SURGICAL FEAT

Grey River Argus, 19 June 1925, Page 2

GREAT SURGICAL FEAT

WOMAN’S HEART EXPOSED. REMOVAL OF A (’YST. SYDNEY, .Tune 5. An account of every unusual surgical operation that is performed does not see its way into print. Alost sur. ! geons are content to do their work 1 without publicity, ami for those who are not, a benevolent despot of an as. sociation—the B.ALA. —enforces mo desty in the name of professional otb. | ies. But occasionally news leaks out j of a marvellous operation, and though ; the name of its performer might be missing, the description of the- surgeon’s feat is sufficient to set the average laymen wondering to what heights of human ingenuity modern surgery is heading. One such operation was performed at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital last week. Part of a. young woman’s chest was laid back, exposing the heart and lung, and a hydatid cyst, which had been pressing on the back of the heart and restricting the patient’s breahing. ■was removed. Tt was an ac.hie.ement which brought additional proof of the fact that skilful feats of surgery can be performed, as successfully i/i Australia as in those of any oilier country in the world; and it proved also that the profession in .Australia is keeping pace with every advancement in modern surgery. The patient was a. city waitress, 3>o years of age. At first it was thought hat she was suffering from a form of tuberculosis, but an X.ray examination revealed the cyst at the back of the heart, and a, series of blood tests proved it to be hydatid. Tt was impossible to tell from the shadow on the X-ray plate 'whether the cyst was attached to the heart or not. A special ana- *. Hhelio was introduced by means of a tube in the throat, through which H was blown at a definite pressure into the lungs, and the surgeon was able to determine by his observations during the operations any regulation of the anaesthetic that was necessary. The lung was allowed to collapse, and a. section of the chest, including ribs, tlesh, and muscles, was laid back, ex. posing the heart and lung. T’his wo* necessary so that in the event of hemorrhage occurring, the surgeon could act suddenly ami freely to eheelc it. The cyst das found to be formed on the diaphragm, but its pressure was exerted upwards on to the hack of th'' heart. An incision was made in- the cyst, which was then partly drained, and the surgeon, exploring the sac in which it had formed, could feel right round to the back of the heart. Tubes were placed to drain the cyst, and Hie section of the chest was carefully re placed and stitched. This operation was performed on Tuesday of hist, week. A week later the patient stated that she was quite free from pnin. and now she is making good progress towards r/eovery.