12 March 1949, the king underwent a lumbar sympathectomy, performed at Buckingham Palace by James R. Learmonth. The operation, as such, was successful, but the king was warned that it was a palliative, not a cure, and that there could be no assurance that the disease would not grow worse. From all accounts, the king continued to smoke. The author and journalist John McBeth describes his experiences of the disease, and treatment for it, in the chapter "Year of the Leg" in his book Reporter: Forty Years Covering Asia. Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte disclosed in 2015 that he has Buerger's disease. References Further reading Diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries Vascular-related cutaneous conditions