Demonstration of animals whose thoracic organs have been operated upon

Abstract

The animals have been operated upon by the method of Meltzer. At first, a few relatively simple experiments were performed, such as the resection of a pulmonary lobe, the extirpation of a segment of the middle part of the esophagus, the dissection of the mediastinum by opening the two pleuræ and the pericardium, and resection of a small part of the superior vena cava and its replacement by a piece of a jugular vein. The animals recovered completely with the exception of one which died of pleurisy a few days after the operation.

Then I began some researches on the surgery of the thoracic aorta. Six animals were operated on. In three experiments, the upper part of the descending aorta was cut transversely and sutured. The three animals recovered without incident.

In the fourth experiment, the ascending part of the aorta was cut longitudinally about three centimeters above the heart and sutured. The animal is now in good health.