[Account of a case in which the subclavian artery was tied successfully / by Robert Liston, ].

  • Robert Liston
Date:
[1820?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Account of a case in which the subclavian artery was tied successfully / by Robert Liston, ]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CASE OF ANEURISM IN THE AXILLARY PORTION OF THE LEFT BRACHIAL ARTERY, IN WHICH LIGATURE OF THE SUBCLAVIAN WAS SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED. BY ROBERT LISTON, Surgeon, TEACHER OF ANATOMY AND SURGERY, &C. &C. EDINBURGH. £From the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal, No. LXIV/] On the 31st March 1820, I was asked to see the subject of the following case,—-Alexander Gibson, a coachman, aged 35. A soft tumour, the size of a small melon, and of a coni¬ cal form externally, was situated rather above the level, im¬ mediately under and closely in contact with the left clavicle. The pulsation through the whole of it was most distinct, and seemed to extend even above the bone. It could be almost entirely commanded by firm compression with the fingei on the vessel at the side of the neck; but all attempts of this kind, after he came under my care, were abstained from on account of the excruciating agony produced by them. The pain thus caused had previously deprived him entirely of rest; indeed the paroxysms were so extremely violent, that he could sometimes be with difficulty retained in bed. The whole arm and fore-arm were benumbed, the hand slightly cedematous, and the ciicula- tion in the limb very feeble. The constant torture, greatly ag¬ gravated at night, referable to the stretching of the axillary plexus of nerves over the parietes of the tumour, increased by the frequent handling and pressure, had almost entirely made sleep a stranger to him for many weeks. He enjoyed a little rest only after being quite worn out and exhausted by suffer-