A History of Cardiac Anesthesiology

The First Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellow, William A. Lell: A Brief History

“…Many stayed for decades to create what was recently acknowledged as one of the leading programs of the time. 35 Adhering to a Kirklin dictum: "If you do not have good clinical care, you do not have anything," Lell brought skilled clinicians who either had an interest in academics or were willing to support those who did. He wanted individuals who would accept challenges, work long hours, and persevere recognizing that supporting an individual's expertise not only encourages that person to work harder but brings success to the enterprise as a whole.…”

In Response

“…I thank Dr Cooper 1 for his historical research and comments regarding my article. 2 It certainly is indisputable that Arthur Keats 3 was a pioneering anesthesiologist as well as a “towering intellect and protean contributor” to cardiac anesthesia. As Dr Cooper 1 points out and we documented, Dr Keats 3 presided over Anesthesiology at Texas Heart Institute and Methodist Hospital of Baylor College of Medicine where Dr Denton Cooley and Michael DeBakey, respectively, developed their world-renowned surgical programs.…”

“…2 It certainly is indisputable that Arthur Keats 3 was a pioneering anesthesiologist as well as a “towering intellect and protean contributor” to cardiac anesthesia. As Dr Cooper 1 points out and we documented, Dr Keats 3 presided over Anesthesiology at Texas Heart Institute and Methodist Hospital of Baylor College of Medicine where Dr Denton Cooley and Michael DeBakey, respectively, developed their world-renowned surgical programs. This began before Dr William A. Lell got his formal training in Cardiac Anesthesiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital in 1971.…”

“…It is especially gratifying that Dr Cooper 1 is exploring the long, distinguished history of the Department/Division of Cardiovascular Anesthesia at THI and Baylor, where as in Keats 4 own words, he “had been associated with cardiac anesthesia since 1955,” and as we previously reported pioneering the field. 3 Only when we study history will we continue to learn from it.…”