Medical News

Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi had a pacemaker implanted at the Cleveland Clinic

According to the International Herald Tribune, a pacemaker was implanted in the heart of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at Cleveland Clinic’s Heart Center on Dec. 18. Andrea Natale, a Sicilian-born physician and a Section Head of Electrophysiology & Pacing, performed the surgery "to correct a problem with the heart rhythm." Berlusconi was hospitalized at the Clinic for 4 days and returned to Italy on Dec. 22.

The 70-year-old Berlusconi collapsed while giving a speech in Tuscany on November 26, his aides and doctor blamed the episode on a sharp drop in blood pressure.

References:
Clinic: Ex-Italian Premier Berlusconi doing well after operation. IHT.
Surgeon: ex-Italian Premier Berlusconi doing well following surgery to implant pacemaker. IHT.
Silvio Berlusconi from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Image source: Wikipedia, public domain.

Related:
Cleveland Clinic names chair of new Heart and Vascular Institute. Cleveland Plain Dealer, 10/04/2007.


EarthLink CEO Dies of a Rare Tumor

According to a company press release, Charles (Garry) Betty, a President and CEO of EarthLink has died from complications of adrenocortical carcinoma on January 2, 2007. He was only 49. Before joining EarthLink, Betty served as CEO of Digital Communications Associates, Inc. (DCA) and became the youngest CEO of a NYSE listed company.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (also adrenal cortical carcinoma or adrenal cortex cancer) is a neoplasm of the cortex (outer layer) of the adrenal gland. It is a vary rare malignant tumor with an estimated incidence of 1 in 1.5 million people.

References:
Charles (Garry) Betty, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma. Medscape.
Adrenocortical carcinoma, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
EarthLink CEO passes away at age 49. CNN.
Garry Betty, 49, Chief of the Internet Provider EarthLink, Dies. NYTimes.

Updated: 10/04/2007