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sprucej@uthscsa.edu The 20th century will be remembered for many things – space travel, the introduction of various health assets; but most notably, the origin of cardiovascular surgery, said Denton A. Cooley, M.D., world-renowned surgeon and founder of the Texas Heart Institute where he is president and surgeon-in-chief. A standing-room-only crowd of more than 700 people gathered in the Health Science Center auditorium Thursday for the 2005 Presidential Distinguished Lecture featuring Dr. Cooley.
Dr. Cooley presented “My 60 Years in Cardiovascular Surgery,” a travelogue of his involvement in cardiac surgery. He described that during the 19th century, many believed if surgeons attempted suture of the heart, they would lose respect of their colleagues; and that congenital heart disease should only be treated for its symptoms.
“I met my lifelong role model, Dr. Alfred Blaylock, when I was about 20 years old,” Dr. Cooley said. At that time, Dr. Cooley was an intern at Johns Hopkins University. “He and Dr. Helen Taussig, a pediatric cardiologist, decided that it was time to explore an unknown area of medicine – the treatment of cyanotic heart disease.” Cyanotic heart disease is also known as “blue baby” disease because the baby’s skin has a bluish tint to it due to lack of oxygen. In 1944, Dr. Cooley assisted in the first “blue baby” operation to correct an infant’s congenital heart defect and the operation is still a standard procedure today.
“I can still remember the excitement in the operating room,” Dr. Cooley said. “I remember Dr. Taussig saying ‘the child’s lips are perfectly rosy pink!’ That was the dawn of modern heart surgery.”
During World War II, surgeons began to work inside the heart and different techniques were brought to the operating room. “We later introduced a technique called hemodilution that today is one of the basic principles of open-heart surgery.” Hemodilution is an increase in the volume of plasma, resulting in a reduced concentration of red blood cells in blood.
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| Dr. Cooley's presentation attracted more than 700 guests. After his presentation, hundreds waited in line to shake hands with the legendary heart surgeon. | |
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After joining the Texas Children’s Hospital, Dr. Cooley proved that open-heart surgery could be performed on infants. “Today, surgery is performed during the infant’s first days when the opportunity for correction is greatest.” It was believed that children must be at least four or five years old before performing open-heart surgery on them.
Dr. Cooley discussed the evolution of valve operations, aortic surgery and cardiac transplantations, including the introduction of the mechanical heart.
“Finding donors was always the problem,” Dr. Cooley said. “So, I worked with colleagues and developed a device to replace the entire heart. In 1969, the first artificial heart implant took place and it kept the patient alive until a donor could be found.”
A 1941 graduate of The University of Texas, Dr. Cooley later received his MD degree from Johns Hopkins University. He founded the Texas Heart Institute in 1962. On Jan. 10, 2001, the Texas Heart Institute celebrated 100,000 open-heart operations.
“Dr. Cooley, because of your contributions to medicine, we could not have invited a more appropriate person to continue this Health Science Center tradition,” said Health Science Center President Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D. “You are truly a great pioneer of heart transplant surgery and we are honored to have you here to enlighten and inspire us.”
At the close of the address, John Calhoon, M.D., chief of the cardiothoracic surgery division, discussed the Distinguished Lecture Commemorative Album. The album serves as a tribute to and remembrance of all Presidential Distinguished Lecturers. Each year, the Distinguished Lecturer is invited to inscribe a personal message on one page of the album and Dr. Cooley’s message was added this year.
“Dr. Cooley has left so much of himself here with us: his words, his ideas, his message,” Dr. Calhoon said. “We cannot let him leave here without thanking him and giving him a part of us.”
The 2005 Ambassador Scholars presented Dr. Cooley with the Presidential Distinguished Lecture Commemorative Medal.
“We all feel privileged to hear you in person,” said Lauren Kay Smith, Medical School Ambassador Scholar. “Thank you for inspiring students for years. We would like you to accept this medal as a reminder of all the students you’ve inspired throughout the decades.”
The 2005 Presidential Distinguished Lecture was sponsored by Fulbright and Jaworski L.L.P.
