A World First in Cardiac Surgery
Dr. F. John Lewis is regarded as the first surgeon to successfully perform open-heart surgery by closing an atrial septal defect (ASD) in a young 5-year-old patient, Jacqueline Jones.
This groundbreaking procedure marked a turning point in the history of cardiac surgery.
Controlled Hypothermia: An Innovative Technique
To achieve this feat, Dr. Lewis used the technique of controlled hypothermia. By deliberately lowering the patient’s body temperature to around 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27 °C), he was able to significantly slow metabolism and reduce the oxygen consumption of the tissues, particularly the brain.
This reduction in oxygen demand made it possible to temporarily stop bloodBlood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. White blood cells make up our immune defense system. Platelets contribute to blood circulation and the heart while minimizing the risk of irreversible damage.
A Decisive Window of Intervention
The induced cardiac arrest provided him with a window of approximately 5 minutes and 30 seconds to repair the hole in the interatrial septum, between the two atriaThe atria are the two upper chambers of the heart. They act as reservoirs for blood that will fill the ventricles. of the heart.
This timeframe, sufficient to complete the suture, was unthinkable before the introduction of this technique.
A Lasting Legacy
Over the following three years, Dr. Lewis and his colleagues operated on about sixty patients using the same hypothermia method, which became a key step in the development of open-heart surgery before the advent of extracorporeal circulation.
The End of a Remarkable Career
Dr. Lewis passed away on September 20, 1993, at the age of 77, leaving behind a lasting legacy to modern cardiac surgery.
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