“A Thrill of Extreme Magnety”: Robert E. Gross and the Beginnings of Cardiac Surgery

Abstract Seventy-five years ago, a 7-year-old girl underwent the first successful ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus. This procedure transformed her health and was a milestone in the development of cardiac surgery. The operation was performed by Dr. Robert E. Gross, then the surgical chief resid...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pediatric surgery 2013-08, Vol.48 (8), p.1822-1825
Main Authors: Murray, Lindsay, Hendren, W. Hardy, Mayer, John E, Rockoff, Mark A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anesthesia, Inhalation - history
Anesthetics, Inhalation
Cardiac surgery
Congenital heart disease
Cyclopropanes
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent - history
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent - surgery
Female
Gross
History, 20th Century
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Patent ductus arteriosus
PDA
Pediatrics
Robert E. Gross MD
Surgery
Thoracic Surgery - history
United States
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Description
Summary:Abstract Seventy-five years ago, a 7-year-old girl underwent the first successful ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus. This procedure transformed her health and was a milestone in the development of cardiac surgery. The operation was performed by Dr. Robert E. Gross, then the surgical chief resident at Boston Children’s Hospital, who went on to have a distinguished career in pediatric surgery. The patient is now a great-grandmother and the oldest known survivor of cardiac surgery.
ISSN:0022-3468
1531-5037
DOI:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2013.06.008