Surgery: The Best Hope of All

(11 of 11)
what he thought were four malformations that — no one knows why — occur together.

There are, in fact, only three malformations: instead of arising only from the left ventricle, the aorta has outlets from each ventricle; the pulmonary artery or valve is narrowed; there is a hole in the wall between the ventricles. What Fallot thought was a fourth malformation, enlargement of the right ventricle, is a result of these three. It subsides when they are corrected. Youngest of three noted brothers, sons of Minneapolis Dentist C. I. Lillehei (still active in practice at 70): Heart Surgeon C. Walton Lillehei is 44; James, 38, specializes in lung physiology; Surgeon Richard is 35.