Trendelenburg's classic work on the operative treatment of pulmonary embolism.

The experimental and clinical observations of Trendelenburg in the operative treatment of pulmonary embolism represent a landmark in the history of surgery. The original reports of his carefully planned and performed studies in the experimental laboratory are reviewed, along with the unusually cogent clinical descriptions of this master surgeon. Trendelenburg's impressive grasp of the fundamental aspects of the pathophysiology of pulmonary embolism emphasizes the importance of a close analysis of the original communications in order to appreciate these facts fully.