U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 9

WASHINGTON, July 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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FRIDAY, JULY 9: FIRST OPEN HEART SURGERY

Profile America — Friday, July 9th.  This is the anniversary of the first successful open heart surgery.  The year of this pioneering event may surprise you — it was 1893.  The operation took place at Chicago's Provident Hospital, and was performed by noted African-American Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who sutured a heart wound suffered in a stabbing.  Today, open heart procedures are common, assisted by devices such as heart and lung machines.  Each year, close to 450,000 heart bypass operations are performed, and well as over a million obstructed arteries cleared.  Even more sophisticated, there are some 2,200 heart transplants performed annually — operations undreamed of in Dr. Williams' day.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.  

Sources:  Kane's Famous First Facts, 5090

www.biography.com

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 165, 175

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau