HEART MASSAGE.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 22, 19 March 1918, Page 2

HEART MASSAGE.

STOPPED BEATING FOR THIR-

TEEN MINUTES

The story of how Albert. Davies, aged six, had his heart’s action restored by massage after thirteen minutes’ cessation is related in the pri-vately-circulated “Gazette” issued to the staff of Guy’s hospital. After the boy’s tonsils had been removed he stopped breathing. Other means failing to restore respiration, which had ceased for twelve minutes, an incision was made to enable the surgeon to massage the heart. After about twenty squeezes the heart was suddenly felt to be beating, and respiration' was re-es-tablished, though at first the pulse was not perceptible, and the boy’s condition remained extremely feeble. He was unconscious for two days. Only by unremitting care was he brought round gradually to perfect health.

The medical statement on the case concludes : “There have been several succe£.<sful cases recorded of heart massage, but this case is perhaps unique in that recovery took, place after so long a time of cessation of the circulation. It can be imagined that it is extremely difficult to estimate time in emergencies, but. it is certain that the heart had stopped at least thirteen minutes, and the impression of those present was that this figure should be between fifteen and twenty minutes.”