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ATIS translation of Morimoto Statement. In early June Hirao told Morimoto he must help at an operation that afternoon since short of help. This could be interpreted either as an order or request. No one was there, Morimoto left, went back 30 minutes later; personnel were there. Doesn't know when Ishiyama, Hirao and Senba arrived. They all began preparations by lining up 3 tables near the window. Komori brought the PW, had him lie down in the anteroom. Operating gowns were donned but the hands were not washed properly and caps were not worn. The soldiers brought the PW to the center table on a stretcher or on their shoulders, a sheet was put over him. Liver operation. When it was over the 2 soldiers brought another PW on their shoulders or stretcher. The lung operation was performed on the 3rd table; a general anesthetic was given, probably by Nogawa. 1. Operation: excision of left lobe of liver [Diagrams depicting the operating table, shows Komori, Morimoto, Ishiyama (operator), Morimoto (assistant) and Miki as participants] Morimoto didn't know until the operation began that it was to be on the liver. The vena portae was injured, causing it to bleed, whereupon the left lobe was immediately cut off, the abdominal wall sutured in 2 layers. The patient died. The operation lasted about 20 minutes. 2. Lung (mediastinum operation) diagram below; 2 soldiers brought in a PW on a stretcher or shoulders, a 20 centimeter incision was made along the right edge of the sternum, the ribs and clavicle were cut off. Kocher was used. First lung operation Morimoto ever saw. Ishiyama told Komori during the operation that Miyashiro, his intimate friend who died of cancer of tb lung, could have been saved if he were alive today. There were 2 officers behind Ishiyama. The operation lasted 40 minutes, the patient died. As Morimoto left, he saw the dissection of the body of the 1st person on whome the operation was performed. [Another diagram showing operating table with Morimoto, Ishiyama, Miki, and Komori surrounding said table] |