Episode 5- Dr HORACE SMITHY

This young surgeon followed the footsteps of doctors Harken and Bailey when he successfully completed the mitral valve operation as described by his mentors.

He was a surgeon in his hometown of Charleston, south of Boston. He developed a particular appeal for the aortic valve stenosis.His interest was biased because he was himself suffering from the narrowing of both the aortic and mitral valves.

He had the idea to associate himself with another surgeon, Doctor Blalock. He was hoping they would successfully perform a aortic stenosis surgery so that Smithy could be Blalock’s next patient.

The plan for the aortic stenosis surgery was the same one as the mitral stenosis procedure. This plan was developed using corpses from the morgue. This time, a finger was to be put in the left ventricle and directed towards the aortic valve in order to widen the conduct.

However, things didn’t go as planned! The finger introduced into the left cavity that was under high pressure caused the left ventricle to literary explode.

No other tentative will ever be executed.

Dr. Smithy died at the age of 34 after suffering from very severe aortic stenosis.