Delayed Death in Coronary Thrombosis

That thrombosis in the coronary arteries does not invariably cause sudden death has been recently emphasized.¹It is possible that fairly frequently in lesions of this sort, life is prolonged a considerable space or that the establishment of a compensatory circulation is accomplished with a complete or nearly complete return of full heart function. It is undoubtedly true that this condition many times goes without diagnosis, and in the absence of a necropsy the true state of affairs is not recognized. An interesting and important feature is the intense abdominal pain that may be present. This has an important surgical bearing; as, given a sudden, very severe abdominal pain, with tenderness to palpation, which may even be accentuated over appendix or gallbladder, a laparotomy may be seriously considered and in some instances, probably, logically performed. An interesting question of differential diagnosis is thus raised. Herrick gives a tentative classification