Table of Contents
1971
Mammary artery and saphenous vein
Bypass surgery undergoes one of its most important early refinements, as Cleveland Clinic cardiothoracic surgeon Floyd D. Loop, MD and colleagues confirm the clinical application of an alternative bypass technique that produces better results than the original procedure, which involves using a vein taken from the leg. The new technique makes use of a blood vessel (internal mammary artery) located very near the heart, eliminating the need for “harvesting” a blood vessel from another location. Dr. Loop also refines other cardiac surgical techniques, performs long-term follow-up on bypass patients, and devises measures to help lower the cost of hospitalization following cardiac surgery.
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1972
Dr. Sheldon (right)
Dr. Proudfit (back)
Cardiovascular specialists William L. Proudfit, MD, William C. Sheldon, MD, and Floyd D. Loop, MD, establish a cardiovascular information registry, the world's first computerized registry of data on cardiac diagnosis and treatment. Created with the assistance of Emily Wagstaff, RN, the registry is a powerful tool for studying heart disease.
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1973
Drs. Heupler and Proudfit introduced the Ergonovine Test for detection of coronary spasm in patients with normal coronary arteries.
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1976
Dr. Lon Castle
The Heart and Vascular Institute establishes the Pacemaker Section (now called the Section of Electrophysology and Pacing), led by Dr. Lon Castle, and dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Dr. Victor Morant joins Dr. Castle one year later.
Dr. F.George Estafanous
Dr. Estafanous in surgery
America's first department of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology is founded at the Cleveland Clinic, under the chairmanship of F. George Estafanous, MD Dr. Estafanous makes significant contributions in the areas of post-myocardial revascularization hypertension, the hemodynamic effects and clinical effects of opioids and muscle relaxants, blood conservation, and the limitations of hemodilution.
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1979
Dr. Leonard Golding
The artificial heart program continues. Pictured here is Dr. Leonard Golding with use of artificial heart.
Dr. Leonard Golding installs a LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) with first centrifugal pump in a patient who survived.
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