Two cases of ligature of the left carotid for aneurysm of the arch of the aorta : with the post-mortem specimens of four cases / by Christopher Heath.

  • Heath, Christopher, 1835-1905.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Two cases of ligature of the left carotid for aneurysm of the arch of the aorta : with the post-mortem specimens of four cases / by Christopher Heath. 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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    to an operation was placed before her by Dr. Robinson, and she consented to it. Accordingly, Mr. Heath applied a carbolised silk ligature to the left carotid, above the omo-liyoid, on November ICth, 1890, no anaesthetic being employed. On the evening of the operation the tempera- ture of the left side of the face was 82°, that of the right side being 94°. The pulse in the left radial was noticed to have diminished in volume considerably. The patient at this time complained of a throbbing pain in the neighbourhood of the incision, and also of dysphagia. The pain in her right shoulder she declared to be gone. On November 19th (third day) it was noted that respiration, which had been distinctly noisy, particularly inspiration, was now unaccompanied by the least noise. The patient was much better, able to recline against her pillows and indulge in sleep, and declared herself quite comfortable. The pupils were noted to be equal and active. On November 22nd she was able to sleep for seven hours, a thing she had long been a stranger to. The wound healed by first intention, and her progress was uneventful until January 3rd, 1891, when she complained of some return of the pain in the right shoulder and in the interscapular region. She had occasional attacks of epistaxis about this time without obvious cause, and some cough of a laryngeal character persisted. In February, 1891, the pulsating tumour above the sternum, though still visible, was thought to have contracted, and the patient was able to lie and sleep in any position without discomfort. On April 3rd (five mouths after the opera- tion) she complained of some return of dysphagia. In June, as she complained of some recurrence of pain in the right shoulder, and the pulse was full and hard, Dr. Robinson ordered her tablets of nitro-glycerine, under which the pain subsided. She continued to improve, and was discharged from the infirmary at her own request on August 8th, 1891. This patient was admitted to the London Hospital