George E. Green (doctor)

George E. Green (1900-1986) was an American physician who practiced internal medicine, primarily known for his advocacy of internal mammary artery ligation (IMA ligation) as a treatment for angina pectoris. He graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine.

While IMA ligation was a widely accepted procedure for a period in the mid-20th century, Green was a particularly vocal proponent, performing and promoting the operation extensively. He developed and popularized his own specific technique for the procedure.

The procedure involved surgically tying off the internal mammary arteries. The rationale, though later disproven, was that this would increase blood flow to the heart via collateral vessels.

Subsequent double-blind studies in the late 1950s and early 1960s demonstrated that IMA ligation had no greater effect than a placebo surgery. Despite this evidence, Green continued to advocate for the procedure, arguing that the positive results he observed in his patients outweighed the findings of the controlled studies. He published extensively on his views and techniques.

The eventual discrediting of IMA ligation and the acceptance of alternative treatments like coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) significantly reduced the prominence of Green's work in cardiology. His career illustrates the challenges of evaluating medical interventions and the importance of rigorous scientific methodology, particularly in the face of individual practitioner experiences.