Open Hearts

Stories of the Surgery That Changes Children's Lives

Kate Bull

• Publisher: Elliott & Thompson
• Year: 2016
• eBook ISBN:
  9781783962280
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Diseases & Allergies

A powerful story of medical progress, hope, and survival.

Until the 1960s, "blue babies" were a striking sight. Congenital heart disease offered a bleak outlook for young patients and a heartbreaking experience for parents. Now, in the West, most have a much higher chance of survival.

Open Hearts tells of the development of heart surgery in children and the patients, past and present, whose lives have been transformed. Besides the technology, the sociology of medicine has changed substantially since the 1950s. For all the successful operations, thousands of pioneering patients have gone before, facing their own uncertain futures. Today, we place great hope in the power of science, but sometimes, we ask medicine to do more than it can.

• Discover the history of pediatric heart surgery
• Read inspiring stories of patients and families
• Understand the ethical considerations of medical innovation

For general readers, medical professionals, and families affected by congenital heart disease.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Contents
• Introduction
• 1 Beginnings
• 2 Minnesota, Tuesday 31 August 1954
• 3 When nothing is done
• 4 Birth was almost the death of him
• 5 ‘Those children are my crossword puzzles’
• 6 When did you last see a blue baby?
• 7 Going into hospital
• 8 Magic sleep
• 9 Cold hearts
• 10 ‘It’s a very detailed and complex operation . . .’
• 11 This won’t hurt a bit: recovery
• 12 Finding a new normal: after surgery
• 13 Dirty washing
• 14 Flying solo
• 15 Grown up and trying to do normal things
• 16 Having a baby – what’s the big deal?
• 17 Rhythm problems and other woes: the rise of the expert patient
• 18 ‘Death alone is certain, the time of death is uncertain’
• 19 What’s new? (Besides innovation)
• Plates
• Appendix
• Acknowledgements
• References
• Index
• Copyright