[Boris Vian and his failed meetings with cardiology]

Boris Wan, a mythical figure of the post war years, just missed the succession of therapeutic advances in cardiology in the mid of the XXth century. A acute articular rhumatism occurred in 1932, as penicillin, discovered in 1928, was not yet on the market. Aortic regurgitation followed. On July 20, 1955, a pulmonary edema occurs as the first case of open-heart surgery with extra corporeal circulation is performed by Charles Dubost in 1955. But only the aortic stenosis may benefit from this surgery. Regarding aortic regurgitation, an artificial valve is necessary. The first Starr-Edwards heart valve is implanted on August 25, 1960. June 23 , 1959, Boris Wan made a sudden loss of consciousness probably due to a ventricular fibrillation. It is this same year that the electric shock is used for the first time, but only in hospital. Boris Wan died during transport to the Laennec hospital. Ambulances were not yet equipped with defibrillator.