History of Anaesthesia

History and Importance of Anaesthesia

• First public demonstration of ether anaesthesia took place on 16 October 1846 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, administered by William Morton to Gilbert Abbott.
• Ether was the primary anaesthetic agent at that time.
• Anaesthesia is essential for surgeries and is crucial for patient comfort and safety.
• Anaesthetists play a vital role in administering the safest anaesthesia to patients.
• Anaesthetists require a deep understanding of physiology, pharmacology, and bodily alterations caused by disease and trauma.
• Anaesthesia refers to the absence or abolishing of senses, particularly pain, to facilitate patient comfort during surgery and pain management.
• Anaesthetists are specialized healthcare professionals who administer anaesthesia drugs, while anaesthetic nurses also administer these drugs.
• Anaesthesiologists are specialist physicians who are experts in the field of anaesthesia.
• Anaesthesia is classified into general, regional, sedation, and local anaesthesia.
• Inhaled anaesthesia was the prominent method before the hypodermic needle was invented, with ether and nitrous oxide being early examples.
• Injectable anaesthesia includes local infiltration and intravenous methods, while tropical anaesthesia is also a type.
• The history of anaesthesia dates back to the 19th century with the first public demonstration of ether anaesthesia, marking a significant milestone in medical history.

Test your knowledge on the history of anaesthesia from the first public demonstration of ether anaesthesia to its essential role in surgeries today.