William Glenn
Encyclopedia
William Wallace Lumpkin Glenn (August 12, 1914 – March 10, 2003) was an American
cardiac surgeon
who co-created an early version of an artificial heart
and was the developer of a technique for the treatment of congenital heart defect
s.
Glenn was born on August 12, 1914, in Asheville, North Carolina
. His father was a doctor and his mother an attorney. He was sent to attend the Sewanee Military Academy in Sewanee, Tennessee
. He attended the University of South Carolina
, graduating in 1934 with a Bachelor of Science
degree. He attended Philadelphia's Jefferson Medical College, graduating with his medical degree in 1938. His internship was performed at Pennsylvania Hospital
, while he performed his residency
in surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital
. During World War II
, Glenn served as a field surgeon in the Army Medical Corps
, serving in Europe
where he established a field hospital in Normandy
.
He was hired in October 1948 by Dr. Gustaf Lindskog, Chairman of the Department of Surgery, and was assigned to supervise the Surgical Laboratories and the Section of Cardiac Surgery (Cardiovascular). He was given the assignment of serving as thesis advisor to William Sewell, a student at Yale School of Medicine
who was working on a required research project in which he was attempting to develop a heart pump. The original pump that was developed used components costing a total $24.80, which included a number of standard laboratory supplies, some assorted hardware and an Erector Set
. Glenn and Sewell presented the results of their experiments at the 1949 annual congress of the American College of Surgeons
in Chicago
. The model they presented took over the functions of the heart's right side, taking deoxygenated blood to the lungs. They reported that they had kept animals alive for up to 90 minutes using their device, without significant changes in blood pressure or oxygen saturation. The device created using the Erector Set is on display at the Smithsonian Institution
's National Museum of American History
. The Smithsonian acquired the heart pump in 1959 from Sewell's mother.
Glenn served as Yale's chief of cardiovascular surgery until 1975. There, he developed improvements to cardiac pacemaker
s, and created the "Glenn shunt" (or "Glenn Operation") in 1954, a vena cava-pulmonary artery
shunt that bypasses the defective right chambers of the heart of "Blue Babies
", augmenting the inadequate blood flow to the lungs and thus providing oxygen that, when missing, gives the babies their blue color. He was the author of Glenn's Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, a standard textbook for the practice of vascular surgery
that was in its sixth edition by the time of his death. From 1979 until 1981, he served as president of the American Heart Association
, the first surgeon to be selected for the position.
Glenn died at age 88 on March 10, 2003 in Peterborough, New Hampshire
at Monadnock Community Hospital. He was survived by his wife Ann, as well as a son, a daughter and four grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cardiac surgeon
Cardiac surgeon
A cardiac surgeon is a surgeon who performs cardiac surgery—operative procedures on the heart and great vessels.-Training:A cardiac surgery residency typically comprises anywhere from six to nine years of training to become a fully qualified surgeon...
who co-created an early version of an artificial heart
Artificial heart
An artificial heart is a mechanical device that replaces the heart. Artificial hearts are typically used in order to bridge the time to heart transplantation, or to permanently replace the heart in case transplantation is impossible...
and was the developer of a technique for the treatment of congenital heart defect
Congenital heart defect
A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and great vessels which is present at birth. Many types of heart defects exist, most of which either obstruct blood flow in the heart or vessels near it, or cause blood to flow through the heart in an abnormal pattern. Other...
s.
Glenn was born on August 12, 1914, in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. His father was a doctor and his mother an attorney. He was sent to attend the Sewanee Military Academy in Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee is an unincorporated locality in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States, treated by the U.S. Census as a census-designated place . The population was 2,361 at the 2000 census...
. He attended the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, graduating in 1934 with a Bachelor of Science
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...
degree. He attended Philadelphia's Jefferson Medical College, graduating with his medical degree in 1938. His internship was performed at Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital is a hospital in Center City, Philadelphia, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System . Founded on May 11, 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, it was the first hospital in the United States...
, while he performed his 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...
in surgery at 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...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Glenn served as a field surgeon in the Army Medical Corps
Army Medical Department (United States)
The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army – known as the AMEDD – comprises the Army's six medical Special Branches of officers and medical enlisted soldiers. It was established as the "Army Hospital" in July 1775 to coordinate the medical care required by the Continental Army during the...
, serving in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
where he established a field hospital in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
.
He was hired in October 1948 by Dr. Gustaf Lindskog, Chairman of the Department of Surgery, and was assigned to supervise the Surgical Laboratories and the Section of Cardiac Surgery (Cardiovascular). He was given the assignment of serving as thesis advisor to William Sewell, a student at Yale School of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine
The Yale School of Medicine at Yale University is a private medical school located in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. It was founded in 1810 as The Medical Institution of Yale College, and formally opened its doors in 1813....
who was working on a required research project in which he was attempting to develop a heart pump. The original pump that was developed used components costing a total $24.80, which included a number of standard laboratory supplies, some assorted hardware and an Erector Set
Erector Set
Erector Set is the trade name of a toy construction set that is popular in the United States.It consists of collections of small metal beams with regular holes for nuts, bolts, screws, and mechanical parts such as pulleys, gears, and small electric motors.The brand name is currently used for...
. Glenn and Sewell presented the results of their experiments at the 1949 annual congress of the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The model they presented took over the functions of the heart's right side, taking deoxygenated blood to the lungs. They reported that they had kept animals alive for up to 90 minutes using their device, without significant changes in blood pressure or oxygen saturation. The device created using the Erector Set is on display at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
. The Smithsonian acquired the heart pump in 1959 from Sewell's mother.
Glenn served as Yale's chief of cardiovascular surgery until 1975. There, he developed improvements to cardiac pacemaker
Cardiac pacemaker
right|thumb|350px|Image showing the cardiac pacemaker which is the SA nodeThe contraction of heart muscle in all animals with hearts is initiated by chemical impulses. The rate at which these impulses fire controls the heart rate...
s, and created the "Glenn shunt" (or "Glenn Operation") in 1954, a vena cava-pulmonary artery
Pulmonary artery
The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. They are the only arteries that carry deoxygenated blood....
shunt that bypasses the defective right chambers of the heart of "Blue Babies
Blue baby syndrome
Blue baby syndrome is a layman's term used to describe newborns with cyanotic heart lesions, such as* Persistent Truncus Arteriosus* Transposition of the great vessels* Tricuspid atresia* Tetralogy of Fallot...
", augmenting the inadequate blood flow to the lungs and thus providing oxygen that, when missing, gives the babies their blue color. He was the author of Glenn's Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, a standard textbook for the practice of vascular surgery
Vascular surgery
Vascular surgery is a specialty of surgery in which diseases of the vascular system, or arteries and veins, are managed by medical therapy, minimally-invasive catheter procedures, and surgical reconstruction. The specialty evolved from general and cardiac surgery...
that was in its sixth edition by the time of his death. From 1979 until 1981, he served as president of the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
, the first surgeon to be selected for the position.
Glenn died at age 88 on March 10, 2003 in Peterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough, New Hampshire
Peterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census. Home to the MacDowell Art Colony, the town is a popular tourist destination....
at Monadnock Community Hospital. He was survived by his wife Ann, as well as a son, a daughter and four grandchildren.