Notable Cases of Medical Conditions in Famous People

John Ritter

• Occupation: Actor, known for "Three's Company."
• Cause of Death: Aortic dissection at age 55.
• Medical Condition:
  • Aortic Dissection: a tear in the aorta where blood flows between the layers forming a false lumen.
  • Types:
    • Type A: Involves ascending aorta.
    • Type B: Involves descending aorta.
  • Symptoms: Acute, sudden, severe chest pain.
  • Statistics:
    • High mortality if untreated: 25% die within 24 hours, 90% within a month.
    • More common in men aged 60-80.
• Related Notables: King George II, Lucille Ball, Richard Holbrook, Dr. Michael E. Debicki.
• Foundation: Ritter's widow started a foundation to raise awareness.

Princess Diana

• Circumstances of Death:
  • Died in a car accident in 1997 at age 36.
  • Severe blunt chest injuries and head trauma.
  • Treated for internal hemorrhage caused by a tear in the left pulmonary vein.
  • Timeline:
    • Accident occurred in Paris.
    • Ambulance took 101 minutes to reach the hospital due to treatment en route.
    • Cardiac arrest occurred due to blood loss.
    • Died approximately 3.5 hours post-accident.
  • Medical Interventions:
    • Received midazolam and fentanyl from ambulance crew.
    • Thoracotomy performed to repair vein tear.
  • Outcome: Pronounced dead at 4 a.m.
  • Speculations: Even with faster hospital arrival, survival was uncertain due to blood loss and potential brain damage.

Dick Cheney

• Occupation: Former U.S. Vice President.
• Medical History:
  • Genetic predispositions and poor health habits.
  • Heart Attacks:
    • First heart attack at age 37.
    • Five heart attacks in total.
  • Medical Treatments:
    • Cardioverter defibrillator implanted.
    • Quadruple bypass surgery.
    • Balloon angioplasty and stents.
    • Left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
    • Heart transplant.
• LVAD Functionality:
  • Assists heart by propelling blood into the aorta.
  • Connected to a small computer and battery packs.

Goals for Lecture 9

• Topics to Cover:
  • Describe hepatic, pulmonary, and fetal circulation.
  • Define terms: portal system, ductus arteriosus, foramen ovale, aortic dissection, LVAD, hypertension.
  • Discuss hypertension (primary, secondary) and its moniker "silent killer."
  • Explore erectile dysfunction and treatments.
  • Review cardiovascular system age-related changes.