News Tuesday Page 9 September 24, 1996 o injured! oss toCoi eltsin surgery draws attention o Russian medical deficiencies ROUS (AP) — Jin the last man star- at crawling. 10SCOW (AP) — The elite clinic that will oversee Boris Jsin’s heart bypass operation is portrait of neglect, from the jlopmy, unheated lobby to the ■y dogs that beg for food at the tolis beat Miami;!door, / night as theKs«G 00t i medicine requires big natchup of unbeam e y, and we don’t have it,” says 'ame of attrition. Bjung emergency room doctor Iphins' Dan Maf»i n g a reporter through the m ankle in thef! eo f long halls at the Russian d the Colts, plam n tific Cardiological Complex injured starters, Mr western Moscow, g linebackers onMrhe state of Soviet and now ) the game. Mian medicine is very bad — all as Harbaugh's» nches, from medical education icrifice his bod)': up — and if anyone says other- lay as the Colts'-' ohnson his firsts [he cardiology clinic is only a bins' coach, d ID toss to Ker end of a 90-yard a d nearly eight nw and second qua r .: ne's only touchdor o a pile of Miami his own 39 in ter to grab a flint he’s lying,” he adds. ill part of this enormous com- of adjoining buildings, con- icted in the 1970s in that mon- ental Soviet style in which rything — doors, corridors, ranees — seems too big. irtificial heart program gets final push laps more imporbMbday, steam radiators struggle ake the chill off 15-foot-high [ways with floors of stone and Isofdrafty windows, and un- :e Cliff Groce that®ded courtyards are overgrown ed to have recovers h grass and weeds. | s ruled Harbaugh? The cavernous main lobby ris Singleton hai possession, gii-' k to the Colts, e, it was a day fort lis defense astl took over first pie: East with Miami!)! each a game beliioc losing linebacke 1 ratt and Stephen Gr? vuscles on the Colts held a nf hat had averaged lit into the gametojid d they sacked Man® t, Bernie Kosar.to ey joined Kansas tt)' and Carolina as lb beaten teams. ns to mss eight we® where visitors leave their coats and wait in line for passes is dark, its flu orescent lights flickering or dead, and cloudy with cigarette smoke. Yeltsin, as president, is a spe cial case, of course, and will get the best treatment Russian and foreign specialists can offer. But his decision to have surgery in Moscow has thrown a spotlight on Russia’s impoverished medical system, where expensive surg eries like his are rare and doctors and patients alike look abroad for quality. Only a few thousand by pass operations are performed in Russia each year, compared to half a million in the United States. Yeltsin, 65, will likely be operat ed on within the next two months, either at the clinic, run by the dean of Soviet cardiology, Dr. Yevgeny Chazov, or at nearby Central Clini cal Hospital, also called the Krem lin hospital, where Yeltsin is now being evaluated. In Soviet times, health care was free but shoddy. Since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, even the elite clinics that cater to VIPs have been gasping for funds. “The biggest problem is non payment,” says Dr. Leo Bokeria, who heads another leading Moscow clinic, the Research Cen ter for Cardiovascular Surgery. “Since we're a state hospital, we’re paid 95 or 96 percent by the state, and we’ve been very badly paid,” Bokeria says. Russia is gripped by a chronic cycle of debt and unpaid wages. “The biggest problem is non payment.” Dr. Leo Bokeria Research for Cardiovascular Surgery The government can’t collect taxes and doesn’t pay its bills, and most state workers, from miners to de fense workers to teachers, regularly go months without paychecks. The ER physician, who spoke on condition of anonymity, grad uated with honors and considers his posting at the Chazov clinic a prize. Still, he makes only $100 a month, less than the national av erage. He sells German pharma ceuticals on the side, but he has a wife and young child and worries he may have to quit medicine to make a living. The president’s heart problems have also brought attention to the need for better preventive care in Russia. The Russian diet is fatty, heavy on red meat, sausage and fried potatoes, and alcohol con sumption is high. Those factors have helped reduce male life ex pectancy to 57, a drop of six years since 1991. The clinic says its kitchen avoids meat and fried foods — Monday’s dinner menu listed fish, mashed potatoes and yogurt — but the young doctor calls the bland, institutional offerings “ugly” and patients’ families commonly bring meals in for loved ones. Often, they are ex pected to bring the necessary drugs, too. “The level of our institute is down,” the doctor says grimly, adding that he himself would prob ably look for treatment abroad. “In my group (at medical school) we began with about 20 people. I would send my relatives to only one or two of them.” The device, which has been tested on calves, should be available for human use in four years. AP) — Dallas wide i Williams could mis ks because of a fo red in Sunday’s Id Buffalo Bills, who has only caif for 154 yards in to verely sprained id suffered a hairlr j bone at the base HOUSTON (AP) — A totally im planted artificial heart that has been tested in calves should be ready for human use in four years. The Texas Heart Institute and ABIOMED Inc., a Massachusetts company, received a 4-year, $8.5 million federal grant that will allow them to complete testing the bat tery-powered pump. Dr. Robert TV Kung, senior vice president for research and devel opment at ABIOMED, said the heart is intended for permanent use in humans. “We intend it to last as long as the person lives,” Kung was quoted as saying in Monday editions of the Houston Chronicle. However, he said, the government contract calls for developing a heart that will last at least five years. Implanting it will cost less than current heart transplants, ABIOMED officials said. The estimated cost of the artificial heart is $30,000. The project calls for testing the pump in the laboratory for two years, Kung said. The pump has been implanted in calves for as long as four months, he said. Dr. O.H. Frazier has led the Texas Heart Institute group that has teamed with ABIOMED for the past nine years to perfect a prototype. Frazier is chief of cardiopulmonary transplantation and director of sur gical research at the institute. Frazier said that only the Texas Heart Institute-ABIOMED and Pennsylvania State University artifi cial heart programs were funded in this final period before human test ing begins. Initially, the artificial heart may be used to keep patients alive un til they receive a transplant, he said. That could occur before the year 2000, he said. The studies were funded by grants from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The new grant is from the same agency. The ABIOMED total artificial heart has two main pumping cham bers, batteries and control electron ics. It is designed to replace a dis eased heart. Unlike heart-assist pumps that are being used more frequently now, the total artificial heart re quires that the person’s natural heart be removed. The total artificial heart takes its place. It is capable of pumping 10 liters of blood per minute and is about the same size as a normal heart — making it appropriate for most adults. A sealed, miniaturized hydraulic pump and motor system powers the pumping action. External batteries worn by the patient provide power that is transmitted through the skin. A small transmitter coil placed over the skin sends the power to a receiver coil that is implanted just under the skin. Electronics control the rate at which the heart beats as well as how much blood is pumped: ICCIDENT tirtued from Page 1 i devastating loss: coach Barry ly. “We were i that area. Kevin endous player for; Dr. Andy Smith, a psychologist at the coun cial teams. Thed:# n § center, said students are free to visit /ing he could be of h a counselor if they need to talk about weeks.” fir emotions. We are available to you at any time,” Idth said. “We are there for you Monday lough Friday (from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), but if I not during business hours, you can call i [help line.” [The help line may be reached by dialing : 45-2700. unday’s accident occurred on Highway 6 Ween Old Reliance Road and Highway 21. pFord F-150 carrying the 10 students re- tedly veered to the left lane of the high- 7 It then crossed back to the right where suspend ing tirade^ E, Ga. (AP) — Til ns suspended londay, one days' lack confronted! ; sidelines, after being bencti quarter of a 3) ladelphia, folio#' the sideline, not 1 ' fter the decision, very serious in' i said after Mono? a left me no ct# it ran off the road, rolled over at least twice and hit a large highway sign. It came to a rest upside down. Gregory Christopher White, 19, a sopho more civil engineering major from Austin, was killed in the accident. The nine other students in the truck were sent to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Columbia Medical Center. Charles David McCleod Jr., 19, a sopho more electrical engineering major from Lub bock and Kelly Rene Tyler, 19, a sophomore interdisciplinary studies major from Col- leyville were both listed in critical condition at St. Joseph’s Monday night. Stephen Arthur Bowels, 18, a freshman business administration major from Universal City, Jeffrey Russell Flinn, 18, a freshman com puter engineering major from Fort Worth, and Jennifer Lynn Luffy, 18, a chemical engineer ing major from Fort Worth, were listed in sta ble condition at St. Joseph’s. In stable condition at Columbia Medical Center Monday night were Melissa Lovoi, 18, a freshman geography major from Beaumont, Sandra Karen Strickland, 18, a freshman busi ness administration major from Fort Worth, and Rebecca E. Wallman, 18, a sophomore biomedical science major from Colleyville. The driver of the truck, Sarah Marie Fullen, 19, a sophomore history major from Col leyville, was released Monday from Columbia Medical Center. Monday night, Sgt. Choya Walling of the Bryan Police Department said it was still too early in the investigation to speculate about the cause of the accident. “All we know now is that the truck left the roadway,” Walling said. “A lot of things are de pending on the investigation.” ey in Irv ndicted [AP) — An attoffi dieted on a witi harge in connetf ug case of r Michael Irvin, rors on las Brent eatening Amber^ 'orked for Arnold * a Irvin’s formers evision station t Gatcomb was y 5 to testify in session trial le subpoena. 1 two weeks lal no contest. ?’s indictment, it that Irvin i she stayed, attorney, I ce. it and friend never met i in his entire “So what wools there is none.' 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*\ 4 * *\ V* * - 1 r ATTENTION SPRING 1997 STUDENT TEACHERS except HLTH, KINE & AGED WHAT: WHEN: TIME: WHERE Gffiiginitaittioini Meeidimg Tuesday, September 24,1996 7:00 p.m. Rudder Tower Room 601 This meeting is Mauaditoiry LEARN TO FLY NOW At United Flight Systems THE EXPERIENCED FLIGHT SCHOOL Learn to fly with the Cess- ■ Private thru 1 advanced • training ■ Aircraft rental na Pilot Cen- . ter Exclusive ' 1111 Integrated at ■ Pilot Shop Flight Training Our New Location: ■ F.A.A. System College Station approved 141 school Zt Easterwood Airport ■ VA eligible Cessna 409 260-6322 Benefits LEADERSHIP 2000: A Leadership Series for New Students September's Topics: THE OTHER EDUCATION What is it and How Do I Get Involved? SEPTEMBER 25 7:00 P.M. 601 RUDDER •Learn About Leadership • Identify Campus Resources* •Hear Words of Wisdom from Successful Student Leaders* Sponsored by The Department of Student Activities Look Cool Stay Cool WITH SUN-GARD®WINDOW TINT FILM Let us put Sun-Gard window tint on your vehicle during our special sale. • Provides a unique custom look. • Is available in a wide range of shades • Helps prevent cracking and fading of interior • High temperature-resistant adhesive stands up under toughest conditions • Lifetime warranty on materials and labor- Nationwide Special w/ complete brake job House of Tires Brakes-4-Less 779-2458