Restarting the heart
When the heart stops during an operation, blood must be sent to vital organs within three minutes. This means the heart has to be started again or manual massage begun. If the massage is not carried out correctly, circulation to the brain may be inadequate, and the heart itself may fail to resume spontaneous activity before the operator tires.
In an effort to overcome these difficulties Dr Vineberg of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, has designed a mechanical apparatus to apply cardiac resuscitation. The device consists of a nylon bag wrapped around the heart. Sewn to its…
