So large an opening as I had unhappily made in this vein could not be quickly closed, and with each inspiration of the patient more, air was sucked in, so that the blood in the right cavities of the heart soon became beaten into a spumous froth that could not be forced except in small quantities through the pulmonary vessels into the lungs.
"The effect of a diminished supply of blood to the brain and nervous centres quickly became apparent in threatened syncope.

Our only hope lay in closing the wound so completely that no more air could enter, and then removing from the heart and capillaries of the lungs the air already received, and now hindering the flow of blood to the brain.

One mode of treatment recommended by French surgeons consists in introducing the pipe of a catheter through the wound, if in the right jugular vein--or if not, through an opening made for the purpose in that vein--and the withdrawal of the air from the right auricle of the heart by suction.
"Doctor Kline favored this treatment, but I knew that it would be fatal.

Any reopening of the wound now partially closed in order to introduce a tube, even if my instrument case had contained one of suitable size and length, must necessarily have admitted a large additional quantity of air, and so made death certain.
"Indecision in a case like this is fatal.

Nothing but the right thing done with an instant promptness can save the imperiled life.