Correspondence, C. Walton Lillehei in response to Alvin Bakst regarding postoperative patient care
Dublin Core
Title
Correspondence, C. Walton Lillehei in response to Alvin Bakst regarding postoperative patient care
Subject
Open Heart Surgery
Creator
C. Walton Lillehei
Source
"B, 1957," Box 91, C. Walton Lillehei papers, uarc2000-7, University of Minnesota Archives
Publisher
University of Minnesota
Date
17-Apr-57
Contributor
Alvin Bakst
Rights
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Format
Document
Language
eng
Identifier
oh0128
Coverage
Open Heart Surgery
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
April 17, 1957
Alvin A. Bakst, M.D.
The Jewish Hospital of Brooklyn
555 Prospect Place
Brooklyn 38, New York
Dear Alvin:
The head lamp that I used was specially made in our
scientific instruments shop. I, like you, found that the
existing models gave a very poor light.
The scale that we used was specially made for us
by the Toledo Scale Company.
In regard to fluid balance, we generally give our
smaller patients where fluid balance is critical, Meads #48
which is a weak salt solution at the rate of approximately
25 to 30 cc. per kilogram of body weight for a 24 hour period.
However, generally they don't get intravenous fluids for more
than 12 to 18 hours since we start them on oral sips of
liquid the morning of the day after surgery unless there is
some compelling contra-indications that make this impossible.
As far as their food requirements, we generally start them
on full liquids including principally milk the day after
surgery if they take their initial sips of water satisfactorily.
Unless there is some reason to limit salt, we do not limit
their intake of food stuffs inasmuch as I think all of us are
convinced of the value of adequate nutrition in facilitating
rapid recovery from surgical procedures.
With best regards.
Most sincerely yours,
C. Walton Lillehei, M.D.
Professor of Surgery
CWL:srw
Alvin A. Bakst, M.D.
The Jewish Hospital of Brooklyn
555 Prospect Place
Brooklyn 38, New York
Dear Alvin:
The head lamp that I used was specially made in our
scientific instruments shop. I, like you, found that the
existing models gave a very poor light.
The scale that we used was specially made for us
by the Toledo Scale Company.
In regard to fluid balance, we generally give our
smaller patients where fluid balance is critical, Meads #48
which is a weak salt solution at the rate of approximately
25 to 30 cc. per kilogram of body weight for a 24 hour period.
However, generally they don't get intravenous fluids for more
than 12 to 18 hours since we start them on oral sips of
liquid the morning of the day after surgery unless there is
some compelling contra-indications that make this impossible.
As far as their food requirements, we generally start them
on full liquids including principally milk the day after
surgery if they take their initial sips of water satisfactorily.
Unless there is some reason to limit salt, we do not limit
their intake of food stuffs inasmuch as I think all of us are
convinced of the value of adequate nutrition in facilitating
rapid recovery from surgical procedures.
With best regards.
Most sincerely yours,
C. Walton Lillehei, M.D.
Professor of Surgery
CWL:srw
Original Format
Paper
Citation
C. Walton Lillehei, “Correspondence, C. Walton Lillehei in response to Alvin Bakst regarding postoperative patient care,” Gallery, accessed November 8, 2026, https://gallerytemp.reclaim.hosting/items/show/3225.