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Medical Alerts: Murtha's Death a Surgical Mistake & Broken-Heart Syndrome
Feb/09/2010
ABC News 
Details on Two Medical Stories Receiving Attention Today
By BRADLEY BLACKBURN
Feb. 9, 2010—
Two big medical stories are in the news today. There's reports that the powerful Democratic Congressman John Murtha died from a surgical mistake, and there's also a fascinating story circulating about a condition called Broken-Heart Syndrome, where an emotional pain can literally cause a heart to stop.
Watch World News with Diane Sawyer for Details on These Medical Stories
ABC's Senior Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser plans to bring you information on both of these stories tonight on "World News with Diane Sawyer," but ahead of the broadcast, here's some background.
Murtha Dies from Medical Mistake
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports today that Pennsylvania's longest-serving congressman died yesterday due to the mistakes of his doctors. The 77-year-old legislator underwent routine gallbladder surgery on Jan. 28, under the care of doctors at the National Naval Medical Center outside of Washington, D.C. Sources close to Murtha told the paper that his intestine was accidentally nicked during a laparoscopic gallbladder procedure. That nick turned into an infection, which eventually took the congressman's life.
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery is fairly common -- a majority of patients who have gallbladder surgery choose the procedure because it requires only small incisions and offers a rapid recovery. How can a common medical procedure go so wrong? And is there anything patients can do to protect themselves? Dr. Besser will tackle those questions tonight.
Broken-Heart Syndrome Puts Healthy Women At Risk
The Wall Street Journal has a fascinating item in today's paper about a medical condition called Broken-Heart Syndrome. The extremely rare condition causes many of the same symptoms as a heart attack, but in seemingly-healthy people. The Journal profiles one woman who suffered a "broken heart" after her husband died suddenly of a heart attack. She experienced chest pains in the hospital, and doctors determined that stress over her husband's death caused her heart to freeze.
Broken-Heart syndrome is apparently most common in post-menopausal women, and the condition can be triggered by everything from the death of a loved one to a bad reaction to a surprise birthday party. What causes the condition, and how can you distinguish it from a heart attack? Is there anything already-healthy women can do to prevent a broken-heart? Again, Dr. Besser will have details tonight on "World News" on your ABC station and on ABCNews.com.
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