William Ganz
Encyclopedia
William Ganz was a Slovakia
n-born American
cardiologist
who co-invented the pulmonary artery catheter
, often referred to as the Swan-Ganz catheter, with Jeremy Swan
in 1970. The catheter is used to monitor heart conditions, especially in intensive care units. Ganz was also one of the first cadiologists to use enzymes to open clogged arteries, which can lead to heart attacks.
Ganz was born in Kosice
, located in modern-day Slovakia
, in 1919. He enrolled at the Charles University School of Medicine
in Prague
, Czechoslovakia
, in 1938. The school was closed in 1940 following the start of Nazi Germany
's occupation Czechoslovakia
. Ganz, who was Jewish, was sent to a Nazi labor camp
in Hungary
during World War II
. He was scheduled to be sent to Auschwitz in 1944, but escaped and went into hiding. After World War II, Ganz graduated from Charles University in 1947 at the top of his class.
Ganz worked in Czechoslovakia
, which was under Communist rule at the time. In 1966, Ganz was permitted to take his wife, Magda, and the couple's two sons on a vacation to Italy
. Instead, the family went to Vienna, Austria, where they applied for a visa to the United States
. He had relatives in Los Angeles
, which allowed the family to move to the United States. Ganz gained a position at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
, where he remained for the rest of his career.
Ganz and Dr. Jeremy Swan
first developed the idea for the pulmonary artery catheter
in 1970. A balloon
is placed at the end of a flexible catheter
, which is inserted into the artery
. Additionally, Ganz had a role in the development of thrombolysis
, in which enzymes breakdown blood clots.
Ganz died of natural causes on November 11, 2009, at the age of 90. He was survived by his sons, Dr. Peter Ganz, a cardiologist at UCSF, and Dr. Tomas Ganz, a pulmonologist at UCLA. His wife, Magda Ganz, died in 2005.
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
n-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cardiologist
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
who co-invented the pulmonary artery catheter
Pulmonary artery catheter
In medicine pulmonary artery catheterization is the insertion of a catheter into a pulmonary artery. Its purpose is diagnostic; it is used to detect heart failure or sepsis, monitor therapy, and evaluate the effects of drugs...
, often referred to as the Swan-Ganz catheter, with Jeremy Swan
Jeremy Swan
H.J.C. "Jeremy" Swan was an Irish cardiologist, originally from Sligo, who co-invented the Swan-Ganz catheter with William Ganz at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in 1970....
in 1970. The catheter is used to monitor heart conditions, especially in intensive care units. Ganz was also one of the first cadiologists to use enzymes to open clogged arteries, which can lead to heart attacks.
Ganz was born in Kosice
Košice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
, located in modern-day Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, in 1919. He enrolled at the Charles University School of Medicine
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, in 1938. The school was closed in 1940 following the start of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
's occupation Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. Ganz, who was Jewish, was sent to a Nazi labor camp
Labor camp
A labor camp is a simplified detention facility where inmates are forced to engage in penal labor. Labor camps have many common aspects with slavery and with prisons...
in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was scheduled to be sent to Auschwitz in 1944, but escaped and went into hiding. After World War II, Ganz graduated from Charles University in 1947 at the top of his class.
Ganz worked in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, which was under Communist rule at the time. In 1966, Ganz was permitted to take his wife, Magda, and the couple's two sons on a vacation to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Instead, the family went to Vienna, Austria, where they applied for a visa to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He had relatives in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, which allowed the family to move to the United States. Ganz gained a position at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
, where he remained for the rest of his career.
Ganz and Dr. Jeremy Swan
Jeremy Swan
H.J.C. "Jeremy" Swan was an Irish cardiologist, originally from Sligo, who co-invented the Swan-Ganz catheter with William Ganz at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in 1970....
first developed the idea for the pulmonary artery catheter
Pulmonary artery catheter
In medicine pulmonary artery catheterization is the insertion of a catheter into a pulmonary artery. Its purpose is diagnostic; it is used to detect heart failure or sepsis, monitor therapy, and evaluate the effects of drugs...
in 1970. A balloon
Balloon
A balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
is placed at the end of a flexible catheter
Catheter
In medicine, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. Catheters thereby allow drainage, administration of fluids or gases, or access by surgical instruments. The process of inserting a catheter is catheterization...
, which is inserted into the artery
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
. Additionally, Ganz had a role in the development of thrombolysis
Thrombolysis
Thrombolysis is the breakdown of blood clots by pharmacological means. It is colloquially referred to as clot busting for this reason...
, in which enzymes breakdown blood clots.
Ganz died of natural causes on November 11, 2009, at the age of 90. He was survived by his sons, Dr. Peter Ganz, a cardiologist at UCSF, and Dr. Tomas Ganz, a pulmonologist at UCLA. His wife, Magda Ganz, died in 2005.