Sympathectomy for Angina Pectoris

Case 1. —A white man, aged 48, was brought to the General Hospital by the police ambulance, June 2, 1923. During a severe attack of angina pectoris he had fallen unconscious in the street. For four and one-half years he had been suffering from attacks of angina pectoris, which had been growing more severe and more frequent. In the last year, he had had minor attacks of pain almost daily and a very severe attack every seven to ten days. In several of the severe attacks, he had lost consciousness but never before had fallen. The pain was most severe. It began over the heart and extended upward and into the left arm, often as far as the fingers. With these attacks of pain, there was a feeling of impending death. A sensation of pressure or tightness over the heart was constantly present, though worse during the anginal attacks. The