King of Hearts

The True Story of the Maverick Who Pioneered Open Heart Surgery

By: G. Wayne Miller

Narrated by: Patrick Cullen

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

G. Wayne Miller has dramatically and meticulously reconstructed an amazing true story: how a group of renegade Minnesota surgeons, led by Dr. Walt Lillehei, made medical history by becoming the first doctors to operate deep inside the human heart.

Few of the great stories of medicine are as palpably dramatic as the advent of open heart surgery, yet until now, no journalist has ever brought to life all of the thrilling specifics of this triumph. G. Wayne Miller tells the story of Dr. C. Walton Lillehei, who, along with colleagues at University Hospital in Minneapolis and a small band of pioneers elsewhere, accomplished what many experts considered to be an impossible feat: he opened the heart, repaired fatal defects, and made the miraculous routine.

Miller draws on archival research and exclusive interviews with Lillehei and legendary pioneers such as Michael DeBakey and Christiaan Barnard, taking readers into the lives of these doctors and their patients as they progress toward their landmark achievement. Beginning in the 1950s with highly unorthodox operations simultaneously on two people - experiments that in today's political climate might not be possible - Lillehei and his colleagues took risks that resulted in rivers of blood and cost the lives of several early patients. But ultimately this is a story of triumph: King of Hearts is a true life-and-death drama about the surgeons who risked their reputations, and the patients who risked their lives, to revolutionize health care.

©2000 G. Wayne Miller (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"Miller skillfully describes the years of research that finally led Lillehei to his first cross-circulation operation on a human...a sturdy telling.'' (Boston Globe)
Highly recommended for all readers, particularly those who owe their lives to Lillehei's path-breaking research." (Library Journal)
"Written with clarity, simplicity, and grace." (Associated Press)

Loved every minute

This is the amazing story of the development of the first open heart surgery in the 1950's. The medical background is easy enough for a non-medical person to understand but remains highly engaging even for a medical professional. I am a medical history enthusiast and this book goes right near the top of the list and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys understanding how scientific and medical breakthroughs occur. Perhaps the only book I enjoyed more was "The Mold in Dr. Florey's Coat" chronicling the development of penicillin.

King of Hearts is a great book and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Fascinating Book

This book was excellent. The narration was superb. The story was interesting and captivating. This story exemplifies the idea that fact can be more intriguing than fiction.

Amazing Story

This is an amazing story about the invention of open heart surgery and the artificial heart. Highly recommend that everyone listen to this, as well as Splendid Solution on the invention of the polio vaccine.

Great narration!

Great story, but what I want to say is: great narration! First American narrator I've found who has a sense of pace and does not find every word of every sentence freighted with meaning. I'm sorry if that sounds un-American because I am one, but I'm constantly looking for books narrated by Brits. Or, from now on, Patrick Cullen.

Great book, great narrator.

I fully recommend this book to anyone interested in heart surgery or cardiovascular perfusion. It details, with clear description, the interesting story surrounding heart surgery and the journey to its perfection. Very well-written and interesting throughout. The narrator has a pleasant voice which (uncommon for me) I found to actually improve the character of the story.

motivated

if you're a medical student this book is a must listen.this book motivated me to a great extent.now we can learn how to practice open heart surgeries with books and ive never wondered who did it first.this story was so enlightening that i decided to specialize in cardiovasculolgy in the future.

Loved it

I rarely read/listen to books of this kind. I was recommended this book by Dr. Barr of USC Keck Medical and I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed this book and how much I learned of the history of cardiology and its progression. While it wasn't so complex in the medical terminology so as to make it easier for non-medical professionals to understand, it was enjoyable nonetheless.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to learn about new things and of the history of lesser known progressions of human history.

I did not know

Why are these heroes hidden from us?
Why are they not discussed in medical school?
My other faults not recognized and considered? Instead they are buried, forgotten, ignored.
We concentrate instead on why there are not more female staff cardiologists (see March 2020, American journal of medicine, editorial by Alpert). I’m no genius, but I think we’ve lost something.

Books like this reminds us of what we have lost. Certainly they remind us of our flaws, of toxic ego, how appetites can ruin the best person. This book reminds me that inside an average student, predicted to fail by teachers (sic), in such a regular American there can be greatness and genius.

PETA members read this! for the love of dogs!

The history of the of open heart surgery will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you or anyone you have ever loved had open heart surgery, pace maker or valve replacement you owe these Minnesota doctors and electrician and the sacrificed dogs (learned on them first and honed their technique) your time to hear their story. Daring, learning, persistence and sacrifice has saved the lives of so many children and adults. Thank you Wayne Miller for bringing this story to print in the 21st century! Patrick, your voice fits perfectly. Unforgettable!

very informative and unforgettable

I had no idea how open heart surgery developed and now I will never forget.

Good biography of Walton Lillehei

A well written biography of the surgeon who saw advanced heart surgery change from a dream to a common occurrence.

I found the first chapters a bit tedious - lots of details and times and places, but that sets the scene for the rest of the story, and it is a truly fascinating story of the trials and tribulations of the relatively small groups of people with not much more than inspiration and lab dogs who came up with the tools and ideas to pioneer heart surgery. It is amazing how such advanced surgery became possible with such seemingly primitive techniques. Beyond the story of the surgeries there are more than a few twists and turns in the personal life of Walton Lillehei.

The story is also well read - however I did find the speed of narration slow and ended up listening to it at 1.5 speed.