AUTOTRANSFUSION IN THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDS OF THE HEART

Penetrating wounds of the heart usually are rapidly fatal. In spite of the fact that the infrequency of the condition prevents any one man from acquiring a wide experience, analysis of reports collected from the literature, as well as facts obtained from animal experimentation, have established methods which are proving their value in the increased number of successful cases that have been reported in the last few years. This is verified by the periodic reviews of the literature, which have shown a decline in the mortality rate from 63.7 per cent, as reported by Peck 1 in 1909, to 34 per cent, as reported by Ramsdell 2 in 1934, given in the accompanying table. It is our desire to call attention to a procedure which, if used more frequently in certain types of injury, may possibly result in a further reduction in the mortality rate. Descriptions of the various surgical