Posted on 02/16/2006 11:33:43 AM PST by FairOpinion
The irregular heartbeat suffered Tuesday by the 78-year-old lawyer shot by Vice President Dick Cheney — apparently caused by a birdshot pellet lodged in or next to his heart — likely will not require surgery or long-term medication, a Ben Taub trauma surgeon said.
"We see a shotgun wound almost once a week here," said Dr. Kenneth Mattox, chief of staff at Ben Taub General Hospital, one of Houston's leading trauma centers. "For a bullet the size of a birdshot pellet to create atrial fibrillation would be a little unusual. I'm not saying it didn't happen. Theoretically, it could happen."
In Harry Whittington's case, the pellet is causing irritation and inflammation where it is touching his heart, which led to a "short circuit" of the heart's electrical signals, said Dr. David Blanchard, emergency room chief of Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Memorial.
Mattox said he's seen arrhythmias resulting from a bullet caught in the muscles of the right side of the heart. He said he would not perform surgery on those cases.
"These pellets can go into tissue, but they usually don't cause a lot of damage unless they hit the eyeball or sometimes if they enter a blood vessel," Mattox said. "The holes are so tiny you don't find them all. It almost is the same size you'd have if you were doing a needle biopsy."
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
The media is deeply saddened by the news.
This won't make the media vultures very happy.
And more ( note the snide title, calling Whittington "the victim"), but nevertheless he is doing well:
Victim sitting up, working
February 16, 2006
Harry Whittington was back to business yesterday, according to a spokesman at Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Memorial in Texas.
"He's sitting up, eating regular food and is even doing some attorney work," Peter Banko, a hospital administrator, said at an afternoon news briefing yesterday. "He is doing extremely well. He's a true gentleman, and he wonders what all the hoopla is about."
Whittington, 78, who remains active in his Austin law practice, will remain in the hospital for another six days or so, Banko said. He remains in the intensive care unit, to provide him with privacy. He was in stable condition four days after being accidentally shot by Vice President Dick Cheney.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usheal164628782feb16,0,3881681.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-print
I'm glad to hear that Whittington is doing so well.
David Gregory, OTOH, is not pleased. Watch him have another tantrum next time he's on TV.
Did anyone hear the medical conference today? Did I hear the hospital Administrator say they were investigating those TV doctors, who were commenting on the Whittington case, for possible privacy violations? If so, that Dr London who was on FNC could be in deep do-do.
Darn. The MSM and RATs are hoping he dies. Of course, he proably will in 10 or 15 years. They probably have a death watch on him. Don't let him get too close to Fort Marcy Park.
Really! First I heard of that. It could get very interesting to see a few of those irresponsible media doctors get their licenses taken away.
I know. I hope someone else saw it and can confirm. I was so upset that day over the media doctors. We'll see.
I hope he does a quick interview with Brit Hume, just to drive the RATS crazier.
Whittington not expected to need surgery or long-term care...media on suicide watch.
Pretty much unrelated to doctor comments, but I keep wondering if Mr. Whittington will set off alarms every time he goes through the medal detector at the airport.
I agree, I find it odd also.
Cheney also said that the RIGHT hand side of Whittington was sprayed with pellets.
Both he and Cheney out hunting again...same place. Invite the press...ALL OF THE PRESS...Mr. Whittington, when asked how he feels, says: " I'd rather go hunting with Dick Cheney here than go driving with Ted Kennedy, any day!"
See if it makes the evening MSM news....
Nope...not because of a little lead.
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