Edward Delos Churchill
Encyclopedia
Edward Delos Churchill was an American
surgeon
known for his work in thoracic surgery
and remembered for describing the Churchill-Cope reflex
.
. He attended Northwestern University
, graduating B.S.
in 1916 and M.A.
in 1917. He then attended Harvard Medical School
, graduating M.D.
cum laude in 1920. He undertook his internship and residency
at the Massachusetts General Hospital
, and continued there as an associate surgeon.
He studied in Europe on a Moseley Traveling Fellowship in 1926 and 1927, speding time in Copenhagen
, Munich
and Berlin
.
He returned to Massachusetts General in 1927, and moved to Boston City Hospital
in 1928 to help found a full time surgical unit there. In 1928 he performed the first pericardiectomy in the United States in a collaboration with Dr. Paul D. White
, for the treatment of constrictive pericarditis
, and developed this treatment subsequently. In 1929 he and Oliver Cope
published research which described the Churchill-Cope reflex. During that time Churchill also researched pulmonary embolism
, showing that multiple small emboli cause pulmonary hypertension
, while a single massive embolism causes death by a different mechanism.
Churchill returned to Massachusetts General in 1931, becoming the John Homans Professor of surgery and Chief of the West Surgical Service at Massachusetts General. He developed parathyroid surgery in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism
, performing the first mediastinal
parathyroidectomy
with Oliver Cope on patient Captain Charles Martell in 1932. Churchill and Cope continued to improve the success rate of parathyroid surgery in subsequent years. He also developed the use of lobectomy
in the treatment of bronchiectasis
, pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer
.
During the Second World War Churchill became Theatre Commander for surgery in the Mediterranean. He developed the use of delayed primary closure and early debridement of contaminated wounds. He established regional blood banks to increase the use of blood transfusion
, and improved the process of air evacuation of wounded soldiers.
In 1946 he was President of the American Surgical Association, and continued as Professor of surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 1948 the surgical services at Massachusetts General were combined, and Churchill became Chief of the General Surgical Services. He retired in 1962, and fostered an interest in the history of wound management. He died on 28 August 1972 of a myocardial infarction
while walking on his farm in Vermont
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
known for his work in thoracic surgery
Thoracic surgery
Thoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in the surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax . Generally treatment of conditions of the lungs, chest wall, and diaphragm....
and remembered for describing the Churchill-Cope reflex
Churchill-Cope reflex
The Churchill-Cope reflex is a reflex in which distension of the pulmonary vascular bed, as occurs in pulmonary oedema, causes an increase in respiratory rate .It was described in 1929 by Edward Delos Churchill and Oliver Cope....
.
Biography
Edward Churchill was born on 25 December 1895 in Chenoa, IllinoisChenoa, Illinois
Chenoa is a city in McLean County, Illinois, USA. The population was 1,785 at the 2010 census. Located at the intersections of Interstate 55, Historic Route 66, and U.S. Route 24.Founded in 1854 by Mathew T. Scott, Chenoa was created to provide a retail and trade center for his farm tenants as well...
. He attended Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, graduating B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1916 and M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1917. He then attended Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, graduating M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
cum laude in 1920. He undertook his internship and residency
Residency (medicine)
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
, and continued there as an associate surgeon.
He studied in Europe on a Moseley Traveling Fellowship in 1926 and 1927, speding time in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
He returned to Massachusetts General in 1927, and moved to Boston City Hospital
Boston City Hospital
The Boston City Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, was "intended for the use and comfort of poor patients, to whom medical care will be provided at the expense of the city, and .....
in 1928 to help found a full time surgical unit there. In 1928 he performed the first pericardiectomy in the United States in a collaboration with Dr. Paul D. White
Paul Dudley White
Paul Dudley White , American physician and cardiologist, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, the son of Herbert Warren White and Elizabeth Abigail Dudley. White's interest in medicine was sparked early in life, when he accompanied his father, a family practitioner, on rounds and house calls in a...
, for the treatment of constrictive pericarditis
Constrictive pericarditis
In many cases, constrictive pericarditis is a late sequela, in other words a condition that is the consequence of a previous disease, of an inflammatory condition of the pericardium...
, and developed this treatment subsequently. In 1929 he and Oliver Cope
Oliver Cope
Oliver Cope , was an American surgeon known for his work in parathyroid surgery, burns treatment and breast cancer treatment. He is also remembered for describing the Churchill-Cope reflex.- Biography :...
published research which described the Churchill-Cope reflex. During that time Churchill also researched pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream . Usually this is due to embolism of a thrombus from the deep veins in the legs, a process termed venous thromboembolism...
, showing that multiple small emboli cause pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension
In medicine, pulmonary hypertension is an increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, or pulmonary capillaries, together known as the lung vasculature, leading to shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, and other symptoms, all of which are exacerbated by exertion...
, while a single massive embolism causes death by a different mechanism.
Churchill returned to Massachusetts General in 1931, becoming the John Homans Professor of surgery and Chief of the West Surgical Service at Massachusetts General. He developed parathyroid surgery in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism
Primary hyperparathyroidism
Primary hyperparathyroidism causes hypercalcemia through the excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone , usually by an adenoma of the parathyroid glands.-Epidemiology:...
, performing the first mediastinal
Mediastinum
The mediastinum is a non-delineated group of structures in the thorax, surrounded by loose connective tissue. It is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity...
parathyroidectomy
Parathyroidectomy
Also known as "Parathyroid gland removal", Parathyroidectomy is the surgical removal of one or more parathyroid glands. This procedure is used to remove primary tumors or hyperplasia of the glands, especially when they produce excessive parathyroid hormone. As drugs such as Fosamax do not treat the...
with Oliver Cope on patient Captain Charles Martell in 1932. Churchill and Cope continued to improve the success rate of parathyroid surgery in subsequent years. He also developed the use of lobectomy
Lobectomy
Lobectomy means surgical excision of a lobe. This may refer to a lobe of the lung, a lobe of the thyroid , or a lobe of the brain ....
in the treatment of bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is a disease state defined by localized, irreversible dilation of part of the bronchial tree caused by destruction of the muscle and elastic tissue. It is classified as an obstructive lung disease, along with emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, and cystic fibrosis...
, pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.
During the Second World War Churchill became Theatre Commander for surgery in the Mediterranean. He developed the use of delayed primary closure and early debridement of contaminated wounds. He established regional blood banks to increase the use of blood transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
, and improved the process of air evacuation of wounded soldiers.
In 1946 he was President of the American Surgical Association, and continued as Professor of surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 1948 the surgical services at Massachusetts General were combined, and Churchill became Chief of the General Surgical Services. He retired in 1962, and fostered an interest in the history of wound management. He died on 28 August 1972 of a myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
while walking on his farm in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
External links
- The Edward Delos Churchill papers can be found at The Center for the History of Medicine at the Countway Library, Harvard Medical School.