Louis Hamman

Louis Virgil Hamman (cropped)

Louis Hamman (1877–1946) was an American physician known for his contributions to the field of medicine, particularly in the areas of pulmonology and cardiology. He is best remembered for identifying and describing several medical conditions that bear his name.

Early Life and Education

Louis Hamman was born in 1877. He pursued his medical education at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he developed an interest in internal medicine. After completing his studies, he joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins and began his career in medical research and practice.

Medical Contributions

Louis Hamman made significant contributions to the understanding of various medical conditions. Some of the notable syndromes and signs associated with his name include:

• Hamman's syndrome: Also known as spontaneous mediastinal emphysema, this condition involves the presence of air in the mediastinum, which can cause chest pain and other symptoms.
• Hamman's sign: A clinical sign characterized by a crunching, rasping sound, synchronous with the heartbeat, heard over the precordium in cases of mediastinal emphysema.
• Hamman-Rich syndrome: Now known as acute interstitial pneumonia, this is a rare and severe form of lung disease that can lead to rapid respiratory failure.

Career and Legacy

Throughout his career, Hamman was dedicated to advancing the field of medicine through both clinical practice and research. He published numerous papers on various medical topics and was highly regarded by his peers for his diagnostic acumen and clinical skills.

Hamman's work has had a lasting impact on the fields of pulmonology and cardiology, and his name continues to be associated with the conditions he described. His contributions have helped shape modern medical practices and improve patient care.

Related Pages

• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Pulmonology
• Cardiology
• Mediastinal emphysema
• Acute interstitial pneumonia