State Fairgrounds tragedy
Methodist Hospital has a long history of excellent response to trauma. Not only does it house Indiana's largest emergency room, but also one of the largest in the nation – seeing nearly 100,000 patients annually. It is also the official hospital for the Indianapolis 500 race.
On October 31, 1963, tragedy struck Indianapolis at a Holiday on Ice show in the Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. A leak in a propane valve resulted in a blast that caused 74 deaths and over 400 injuries. Upon hearing the news, Jack Hahn, Executive Director of Methodist Hospital, deployed Methodist Hospital's recently created disaster plan. Methodist Hospital successfully treated 120 patients and admitted 65. The exemplary response to tragedy garnered national coverage and helped establish Methodist as a leader in trauma care.
Today Methodist, IU, and Riley (counted as one unit under Clarian Health) is one of only two Indiana Level 1 Trauma Centers designated by the American College of Surgeons.
Altering the course of history
Approximately 100,000 men are alive today thanks to the testicular cancer treatment developed by Dr. Lawrence Einhorn of the IU School of Medicine.
Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer in young men. In the early 1970s, the mortality rate was 90 percent. Then in 1974, Dr. Einhorn's experience and research led him to combine chemotherapy drugs and the treatment regimen became a revolutionary cure. Today the survival rate is 95 percent.
With the now-proven treatment, Dr. Einhorn successfully treated cyclist Lance Armstrong and Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau, among countless others.
The heart of cardiovascular care
The Krannert School of Cardiology at the IU School of Medicine is recognized throughout the world for its commitment to excellence in patient care, research, and education. While they are known for their experience and ability to take care of the most complex cardiovascular problems, they are equally focused on prevention and early detection.
Methodist Hospital is also synonymous with excellence in cardiovascular care. Today's award-winning comprehensive cardiac critical care unit is built on a history of pioneering physicians in the field of cardiology and cardiovascular surgery.
In 1965, when American homes still had black and white TVs, Drs. John Pittman, Harry Siderys and Gilbert Herod performed the first successful open heart surgeries at Methodist Hospital. And, in 1982, medical history was made again when Dr. Harold Halbrook performed the first successful heart transplant at a private hospital anywhere in the world.
Today, Methodist Hospital boasts a continuing legacy of pioneering firsts in this special field as worldwide founders in echo cardiology and leaders in the use of mechanical heart assist devices.
A new lease on life
Jose "Joey" Garcia spent 25 years of his young life battling cystic fibrosis. He needed new lungs to help him breathe. At the Clarian Transplant Center, Thomas Wozniak, MD and Jonathan Fridell, MD performed the nation's first simultaneous lung-pancreas transplant in 2006. The 12-hour procedure was a milestone for cystic fibrosis patients like Joey, who often develop a unique type of insulin-dependent diabetes that destroys the pancreas.
This procedure is seen as a potential life-expander in a fight against the disease that affects about 30,000 Americans. The lungs are the greatest concern for the surgery, but the pancreas transplant provides the possibility for the patient to be diabetes-free. Without the pancreas transplant, a patient's diabetes can get worse from the anti-rejection medications necessary for the success of the lung transplant.
Today, IU transplant surgeon Rodrigo Vianna, MD is one of the few surgeons in the US who performs multi-visceral transplantation (MVTx) to treat advanced metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. MVTx involves complete removal of internal organs except for the kidneys and the left colon – followed by transplantation of the stomach, pancreas, liver and small bowel from a single donor. The 14 patients who received transplants in 2009 by Dr. Vianna and his team had a 90 percent survival rate – with none of the deaths due to a recurrence of cancer.