SUTURE OF WOUND OF THE HEART: LIGATING THE INTERVENTRICULAR BRANCH OF THE LEFT CORONARY ARTERY AND VEIN

The case here reported concerns a punctured wound of the heart penetrating the upper portion of the middle third of the right ventricle anteriorly, near the septum, and accompanied by hemopericardium. The cardiac wound was not complicated by any injury to the pleura or lung, and, in the closure of the heart wound, ligation of the interventricular branch of the left coronary artery and vein became necessary. REPORT OF CASE History. —J. S., a white man, aged 44, a machinist, admitted to the detention ward of the Cook County Hospital, Aug. 3, 1920, came voluntarily, complaining of being very much depressed over the recent death of his mother. After the usual examination, a tentative diagnosis of simple depression was made, and the patient remained for further observation. The patient had a good physique and was well nourished. The heart examination, in particular, did not reveal any abnormality. The blood pressure