Open hearts. The origins of direct-vision intracardiac surgery.

Only 50 years ago, operating under direct vision within the walls of the living human heart appeared to be a surgical problem with no great hope of solution. However, technologic advances soon provided the necessary tools, and a safe, reliable, and practical technique of performing surgery within the open heart evolved in a series of stages. First, W.

Twelve weeks of coronary artery disease.

Osler said the components of the student spirit are humility, confidence, pride and hope. In this retrospective look at 12 weeks spent on a cardiology ward, medical student Paul Fedak recounts his experiences concerning a patient diagnosed with terminal coronary artery disease.

The role of the plasma from platelet concentrates in transfusion reactions.

Background: Febrile, nonhemolytic transfusion reactions are the most frequent adverse reactions to platelets. A number of observations argue against the widely held view that these reactions result from the interaction between antileukocyte antibodies in the recipient and leukocytes in the platelet product. We sought to determine whether substances in the plasma or the cells in the product cause reactions to transfused platelets.