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. 2022 Mar 9;3(1):e150.
doi: 10.1097/AS9.0000000000000150. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Harry Truman's Complicated Cholecystectomy

Theodore N Pappas  1 , Jared N Gloria  2 , Justin Barr  2
Affiliations

Harry Truman's Complicated Cholecystectomy

Theodore N Pappas et al. Ann Surg Open. .

Abstract

Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, developed right-sided abdominal pain the year after he left office. Misdiagnosed with appendicitis, Truman underwent an appendectomy before a cholecystectomy treated the underlying cholecystitis. This error was concealed at the time from the American people. His postoperative course was closely followed by Americans through newspapers and was complicated by a bout of Clostridium difficile colitis. Truman survived this episode to die of heart failure decades later.

Keywords: C. diff infection; Harry Truman; Wallace Graham; appendicitis; cholecystitis.

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Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Portrait of Harry S. Truman. Image in the public domain under Wikimedia commons.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Colonel Wallace H. Graham, at the White House. Image in the public domain from the Truman Library.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Truman’s condition good after emergency surgery. New York Times. June 21, 1954;A1:13.
    1. Johnston RJH. Truman’s illness is ‘Very Serious’; a crisis is feared. New York Times. June 28, 1954:A1.
    1. Truman gets over illness. The Baltimore Sun. June 20, 1954:5.

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