Henry Heimlich Explained

Henry Heimlich
Birth Name:Henry Judah Heimlich
Birth Date:3 February 1920
Birth Place:Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Death Place:Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Education:Cornell University (BA, MD)
Profession:Physician and medical researcher
Years Active:1943–2016
Children:4
Relatives:Arthur Murray (father-in-law)

Henry Judah Heimlich (February 3, 1920 – December 17, 2016) was an American thoracic surgeon and medical researcher. He is widely credited for the discovery of the Heimlich maneuver,[1] a technique of abdominal thrusts for stopping choking,[2] first described in 1974.[3] He also invented the Micro Trach portable oxygen system for ambulatory patients[4] and the Heimlich Chest Drain Valve, or "flutter valve", which drains blood and air out of the chest cavity.[5]

Early life and education

Heimlich was born in Wilmington, Delaware, the son of Mary (Epstein) and Philip Heimlich. His paternal grandparents were Hungarian Jewish immigrants, and his maternal grandparents were Russian Jews.[6] [7] He graduated from New Rochelle High School (N.Y.) in 1937 and from Cornell University (where he also served as drum major of the Cornell Big Red Marching Band) with a BA in 1941. At the age of 23, he received his M.D. from Weill Cornell Medical College in 1943.[8]

Career

After medical school, Heimlich served with the U.S. Navy in China during World War II. In January 1945, as a member of the US Navy Reserve, Lieutenant (junior grade) Heimlich was assigned to Camp Four of the Sino-American Special Technical Cooperative Organization (SACO) located at Xamba, Suiyuan Province in northern China, on the southern edge of the Gobi Desert. Officially he was the chief medical officer responsible for the well-being of American and Chinese military personnel at this camp, but in actuality he also took care of a wide array of medical issues for civilians in the small town. Camp Four received news of the war's end in late August 1945. During this time, Heimlich claimed he developed an innovative treatment for victims of trachoma, a previously incurable bacterial infection of the eyelids that was causing blindness throughout Asia and the Middle East. According to Heimlich, his approach – a mixture of an antibiotic ground into a base of shaving cream – proved effective, and it was used successfully on patients.[9]

Heimlich valve

See main article: Flutter valve.

In 1962, Heimlich invented the chest drainage flutter valve (also called the Heimlich valve),[10] [11] and was granted a patent for the device in 1969.[12] He said his inspiration came from seeing a Chinese soldier die from a bullet wound to the chest during World War II, a claim that was disputed by Frederick Webster, Heimlich's medical assistant in China.[13] The design of the valve allows air and blood to drain from the chest cavity in order to allow a collapsed lung to re-expand.[14] The invention was credited with saving the lives of hundreds of American soldiers in the Vietnam War.[15]

Heimlich maneuver

See main article: Abdominal thrusts.

On June 1, 1974, Heimlich first published his views about the first-aid maneuver that would bear his name in an informal article, "Pop Goes the Cafe Coronary",[16] in the magazine Emergency Medicine.[17] On June 11, Arthur Snider, science columnist for the Chicago Daily News wrote about Dr. Heimlich's findings, opening with the sentence, "A leading surgeon invites the public to try a method he has developed for forcing out food stuck in the windpipe of persons choking to death," in a story reprinted nationwide.[18]

On June 19, 1974, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that retired restaurant owner Isaac Piha, who had read the Snider article in the Seattle paper, used the procedure to rescue a choking victim, Irene Bogachus, in Bellevue, Washington, a story reprinted in other newspapers.[19] [20] An editorial followed in the August 12 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, which was the first to refer to the procedure as "the Heimlich Maneuver."[20]

Heimlich formally described the technique in a pair of 1975 medical journal papers, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association and the The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.[21] [22]

From 1976 to 1985, the choking-rescue guidelines of the American Heart Association and of the American Red Cross taught rescuers to first perform a series of back blows to remove the foreign body airway obstruction. If back blows failed, then rescuers learned to proceed with the Heimlich maneuver (aka "abdominal thrusts"). After a July 1985 American Heart Association conference, back blows were removed from choking-rescue guidelines. From 1986 to 2005, the published guidelines of the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross recommended only the Heimlich maneuver as the treatment for choking; the National Institutes of Health still does apply it for conscious persons over one year of age,[23] as does the National Safety Council.[24]

The 2005 choking-rescue guidelines published by the American Heart Association called the procedure "abdominal thrusts". The new guidelines stated that chest thrusts and back blows may also deal with choking effectively.[25]

In 2005, the American Red Cross "downgraded" the use of the Heimlich maneuver,[26] essentially returning to the pre-1986 guidelines. For conscious victims, the new guidelines (nicknamed "the five and five"), recommend first applying five back blows; if this method fails to remove the airway obstruction, rescuers are to then apply five abdominal thrusts. For unconscious victims, the new guidelines recommend chest thrusts, a method first recommended in a 1976 study by Charles Guildner,[27] with results duplicated in a study by Audun Langhelle in 2000.[28] The 2006 guidelines eliminated the phrase "Heimlich maneuver" and replaced it with "abdominal thrust".[29]

Allegations of case fraud have dogged Heimlich's promotion of abdominal thrusts as a treatment for drowning.[30] The 2005 drowning rescue guidelines of the American Heart Association[31] did not include citations of Heimlich's work and warned against using the Heimlich maneuver for drowning rescue as unproven and dangerous, due to its risk of vomiting leading to aspiration.[31]

In 2003, Heimlich's colleague Edward Patrick issued a press release portraying himself as the uncredited co-developer of the maneuver.[32] [33] He stated, "I would like to get proper credit for what I've done ... but I'm not hyper about it."

Heimlich claimed to have used his namesake maneuver to rescue a choking victim for the first time on May 23, 2016, when he was age 96, reportedly saving the life of a fellow resident of his senior living community, Patty Ris.[34] [35] However, in 2003, he told the BBC that he had used it for the first time on a man choking in a restaurant.[11] His son, Peter M. Heimlich, said, "Both 'rescues' were bogus."[36]

Heimlich claimed his namesake treatment may have saved the lives of more than 50,000 people.[37] However, according to Michael Sayre in 2005, "Despite widespread education on the use of the Heimlich maneuver and other techniques for treatment of acute airway obstruction, the death rate remains stable."[38]

Malariotherapy

From the early 1980s, Heimlich advocated malariotherapy, the deliberate infection of a person with benign malaria in order to treat ailments such as cancer, Lyme disease and (more) HIV. the treatments were unsuccessful, and attracted criticism as both scientifically unsound and dangerous.[39] The United States Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have rejected malariotherapy and, along with health professionals and advocates for human rights, consider the practice "atrocious".[40] [41] The Heimlich Institute, a subsidiary of Deaconess Associations of Cincinnati, conducted malariotherapy trials in Ethiopia, though the Ethiopian Ministry of Health was unaware of the activity. Heimlich stated that his initial trials with seven subjects produced positive results, but refused to provide details.[39]

Studies in Africa, where both HIV and malaria occur commonly, indicate that malaria/HIV co-infection increases viral load and that malaria could increase the rate of spread of HIV as well as accelerate disease progression.[42] Based on such studies, Paul Farmer described the idea of treating HIV with malaria by stating "it seems improbable. The places where malaria takes its biggest toll are precisely those in which HIV reaps its grim harvest".[43]

Personal life

On June 4, 1951, Heimlich married Jane Murray, daughter of ballroom dancing entrepreneur Arthur Murray.[10] Heimlich's wife, a freelance features writer who later became a proponent of controversial medical treatments like chelation therapy, wrote What Your Doctor Won't Tell You: The Complete Guide to the Latest in Alternative Medicine.[44] She also co-authored a book on homeopathy with Maesimund B. Panos called Homeopathic Medicine at Home.[45]

Heimlich and his wife had four children: Phil Heimlich, a former Cincinnati elected official and one-time conservative Christian radio talk-show host; investigative blogger Peter M. Heimlich; Janet Heimlich, a freelance writer and author of Breaking Their Will: Shedding Light on Religious Child Maltreatment;[46] and Elisabeth Heimlich.[8] [47] [48] Peter maintains a website that describes what he and his wife, Karen M. Shulman, consider to be Dr. Heimlich's "wide-ranging, unseen 50-year history of fraud."[49] Peter has called his father "a spectacular con man and serial liar" and has claimed "the only thing my father ever invented was his own mythology."[50] [51]

Heimlich was first cousin to Haskell Heimlick (née Heimlich) whose son was Anson Williams, known for his portrayal of Warren "Potsie" Weber on the 1970s hit TV show Happy Days.[52]

Heimlich was a vegetarian and in the early 2000s was on the advisory board of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.[53] [54]

Heimlich's memoir, Heimlich's Maneuvers: My Seventy Years of Lifesaving Innovation, was published in 2014 by Prometheus Books.[55]

Death

A statement from his family said Heimlich died at The Christ Hospital on December 17, 2016, after complications from a heart attack in his home in Hyde Park, Cincinnati, on December 12. He was 96 years old.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Henry Heimlich's Contributions . Infoplease.com . March 23, 2014.
  2. Web site: Choking: First aid . Mayo Clinic . October 13, 2011 . March 23, 2014.
  3. Web site: How Dr. Heimlich got his maneuver 40 years ago . Markel, Howard . June 16, 2014 . . June 16, 2014 .
  4. Heimlich . H. J. . Oxygen delivery for ambulatory patients. How the Micro-Trach increases mobility . Postgraduate Medicine . 84 . 6 . 68–73, 77–9 . 1988 . 3054848 . 10.1080/00325481.1988.11700463 .
  5. Web site: 4009 Heimlich valve 2005. June 25, 2023. February 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200203043217/https://www.stjoes.ca/pdfs/PD. dead.
  6. News: McFaddden. Robert D.. Dr. Henry J. Heimlich, Famous for Antichoking Technique, Dies at 96. December 17, 2016. The New York Times. December 17, 2016.
  7. Web site: FamilySearch.org. . June 25, 2023.
  8. Heimlich's Maneuvers Henry J Heimlich, Prometheus Books, 2014, passim
  9. Web site: Dr. Henry Heimlich, inventor of lifesaving maneuver, dies at 96 . Cornell Chronicle.
  10. http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/dr-henry-heimlich-inventor-of-famed-anti-choking-heimlich-maneuver-dies Dr. Henry Heimlich, inventor of famed anti-choking Heimlich maneuver, dies"
  11. News: Heimlich: Still saving lives at 83 . March 9, 2003 . September 2, 2008 . BBC News . Elliott . J .
  12. Web site: Patent Images. pdfpiw.uspto.gov. January 21, 2017.
  13. News: WCPO Insider Monthly, March 2014, page 28. issuu. January 21, 2017.
  14. Web site: John Hunter Hospital Intensive Care Unit Nursing Management of the Patient with an Intercostal Catheter . April 18, 2008 . 24–25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070829185740/http://intensivecare.hsnet.nsw.gov.au/five/doc/education%20packages/jhh_uwsd_sdlp.pdf . August 29, 2007 .
  15. News: Dr. Henry Heimlich, Medical Innovator. VOA. en. January 21, 2017.
  16. Heimlich HJ . 1974 . Pop goes the cafe coronary . Emergency Medicine . 6 . 154–155.
  17. News: This Day in Jewish History 1974: The Heimlich Maneuver Is Invented, Eaters Applaud . Green . David B. . June 1, 2016 . Haaretz . May 16, 2019 .
  18. https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-times-the-first-report-of/134677979/ "Public 'Invited' To Try Doctor's First Aid Method"
  19. https://www.newspapers.com/image/614177262/ "Choking Victim Saved Because Of News Story"
  20. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/dr-heimlich-got-maneuver/ Dr. Howard MarkelHow Dr. Heimlich got his maneuver 40 years ago
  21. A Life-Saving Maneuver to Prevent Food-Choking. Heimlich HJ. October 27, 1975. JAMA. 234. 4. 398–401. 10.1001/jama.1975.03260170034021. 1174371.
  22. Food-Choking and Drowning Deaths Prevented by External Subdiaphragmatic Compression: Physiological Basis. August 1, 1975. Henry J.. Heimlich. Karol A.. Hoffmann. Felix R.. Canestri. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 10.1016/S0003-4975(10)63874-X. 20. 2. 188–195. 1164065.
  23. Web site: Choking – adult or child over 1 year . Medline Plus . NIH . May 30, 2014 .
  24. Web site: Choking . National Safety Council . NSC . May 30, 2014 .
  25. International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Science With Treatment Recommendations. 2005. Section 1: Part 2: Adult Basic Life Support. Circulation. 112. III. 5–16. May 2, 2005. 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.166472. 247577113. free.
  26. https://redcrosschat.org/2013/01/22/choking-101/ Choking 101
  27. Guildner CW, Williams D, Subitch T. Airway obstructed by foreign material: the Heimlich maneuver . Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians . 5 . 9 . 675–7 . September 1976 . 1018395 . 10.1016/S0361-1124(76)80099-8.
  28. Langhelle A, Sunde K, Wik L, Steen PA. Airway pressure with chest compressions versus Heimlich manoeuvre in recently dead adults with complete airway obstruction . Resuscitation . 44 . 2 . 105–8 . April 2000 . 10767497 . 10.1016/S0300-9572(00)00161-1.
  29. Web site: The American Red Cross 2005 Guidelines for Emergency Care and Education . 2005 . . 1–31 . May 3, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080511215040/http://www.redcross.org/static/file_cont5294_lang0_1934.pdf . May 11, 2008 .
  30. http://medfraud.info/TimesLeader_8-22-07.html Heimlich's son cites Dallas case in dispute.
  31. November 25, 2005. Part 10.3: Drowning. Circulation. 112. 24. 133–135. 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.166565. free.
  32. Web site: Dr. Edward A. Patrick & Dr. Henry J. Heimlich Regarding the Heimlich maneuver. https://web.archive.org/web/20090605164508/http://patrickinstitute.org/press_release.htm. June 5, 2009. Patrick. EM. May 28, 2005. The Patrick Institute (via The Wayback Machine). January 7, 2012.
  33. Web site: Outmaneuvered, Part I . https://web.archive.org/web/20051124173057/http://www.radaronline.com/web-only/radar-investigates/2005/11/outmaneuvered-part-i.php . November 24, 2005 . . November 10, 2005 . Francis . T . August 28, 2011 .
  34. Web site: At 96, Dr. Heimlich finally uses his life-saving technique. Cincinnati.com. May 27, 2016.
  35. News: Dr Heimlich saves choking woman with manoeuvre he invented. BBC News. May 27, 2016. May 27, 2016.
  36. News: Samways. Ana. October 28, 2021. Sideswipe: Too good to be true?. New Zealand Herald. December 12, 2021.
  37. News: Heimlich maneuver inventor Henry Heimlich dies at 96. December 17, 2016. Croft. Jay. December 17, 2016.
  38. Book: Sayre, Michael. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Humana Press, Springer. 2005. 978-1-58829-283-4. 111–121.
  39. News: Zengerle . Jason . April 23, 2007 . The Choke Artist . The New Republic.
  40. News: Scientists linked to Heimlich investigated: Experiment infects AIDS patients in China with malaria . Anglen . Robert . . February 16, 2003 . January 27, 2008 .
  41. News: Heimlich's Audacious Maneuver . . October 30, 1994 . January 27, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071025180547/http://www.bioethicswatch.org/foia/media1.htm . October 25, 2007 . dead . mdy-all .
  42. Abu-Raddad L, Patnaik P, Kublin J. Dual infection with HIV and malaria fuels the spread of both diseases in sub-Saharan Africa . Science . 314 . 5805 . 1603–6 . 2006 . 17158329 . 10.1126/science.1132338. 2006Sci...314.1603A . 7862764 .
    Kublin JG . Effect of Plasmodium falciparum malaria on concentration of HIV-1-RNA in the blood of adults in rural Malawi: a prospective cohort study. . 365 . 9455 . 233–40 . 2005 . 15652606 . 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)17743-5 . Patnaik . P . Jere . CS . Miller . William C . Hoffman . Irving F . Chimbiya . Nelson . Pendame . Richard . Taylor . Terrie E . Molyneux . Malcolm E. 35046526.
  43. Nierengarten MB . Malariotherapy to treat HIV patients? . The Lancet Infectious Diseases . 3 . 6 . 321 . June 2003 . 12781493 . 10.1016/S1473-3099(03)00642-X.
  44. Book: Heimlich, Jane.. What your doctor won't tell you. 1990. HarperPerennial. 0-06-096539-8. 1st. New York, NY. 21160729.
  45. Web site: Homeopathic Medicine at Home . Narayanna Verlag . November 15, 2014.
  46. Book: Heimlich, Janet, 1962–. Breaking their will : shedding light on religious child maltreatment. 2011. Prometheus Books. 978-1-61614-405-0. Amherst, N.Y.. 679931793.
  47. News: Judge Won't Reconsider OPRA Decision, Non-Residents May View Public Records. Cape May County Herald. February 19, 2017.
  48. News: January 10, 2018 episode transcript. CBC Radio. January 21, 2018. en.
  49. Web site: Outmaneuvered: How we busted the Heimlich medical frauds. medfraud.info. June 25, 2023.
  50. News: Henry Heimlich, inventor of Heimlich maneuver, dies at 96. USA TODAY. April 13, 2017. en.
  51. Web site: The Sidebar (blog). Heimlich. Peter. May 7, 2020.
  52. Web site: Williams. Anson. Trivia. IMDb. October 1, 2011.
  53. Sears, Dovid. (2003). The Vision of Eden Animal Welfare and Vegetarianism in Jewish Law and Mysticism. Orot. p. 85. ISBN
  54. https://archive.today/20230121193405/https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/opinion/letters/2016/12/23/heimlich-saved-animal-lives-too/23289426007/ "Heimlich saved animal lives, too"
  55. Web site: Prometheus Books.