Doctors at Rothschild Hospital implanted a pacemaker in a new-born boy only minutes after the infant was delivered by Caesarian section with a congenital heart defect. The operation is believed to be unique to medical practice.
The heart defect, detected before birth, made a Caesarian necessary to prevent a still birth. Immediately upon delivery, a cathode with a tiny electrode was inserted in the child’s chest. Doctors said they hoped the congenital defect, which occurs once in every 27,000 live births, would clear up within a few months after which the temporary pacemaker would be removed.
Pacemakers, an electronic device that regulates heartbeart, are widely used among adults, especially the elderly suffering from certain forms of heart disease.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
