SURGICAL SUCCESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22825, 9 March 1936, Page 16

SURGICAL SUCCESS

NEW HEART OPERATION An operation which may be the means of lengthening the lives of hundreds of sufferers from heart weakness has been performed by a Haiiey street surgeon, Dr Laurence O'Shaughncssy. It' followed upon the success of a series of similar operations upon racing greyhounds. ,-,,,. A man of 04, suffering from blocking of the arteries, was operated on. The operation lasted 25 minutes; its effect has been to provide the man with a uew blood supply. The operation will be repeated upon likely subjects at the earliest opportunities. The greatest caution has been observed in describing the operation and its possible effects, but it is believed that it will open up new avenues in surgery. The original experiment was made by Professor James M'Cunn, of the Royal Veterinary College. In his operations he had the help of Dr O'Shaughncssy, who saw the possibility of extending their scope to human surgery. Professor JtKJunn said that he and Dr O'Shaughncssy had "onsidered the experiments for some time. "We aimed to provide ways and means of getting new blood supplies to the hearts of the greyhounds," he said. " When a dog's heart is weak and dilated the operation will enable the heart to function normally. The operations on the greyhounds were so successful that the trial times of the dogs afterwards compared very well with their previous times. "We reported the case in a veterinary journal because we believe that experts on the Continent are working towards the same end, and we wished to establish our priority. If the operation can successfully be performed upon human beings there is no doubt that it will serve to lengthen life.

"Hearts that have been weakened by illness, old age, or excessive 6train could be restored to strength. Many people could be saved from the constant dread of another heart attack."