19th Century Advances In Surgery

Question 1

What was surgery like in the early 19th century?
Patient anaesthetised? What was done? (Hit over ____, al____, bite on wo____ _____/_____
Did the surgeon take precautions with surgery? Why?
What was the key of surgery?
How did people die?
The patient would be ____ down and a _____ or ____ would be tied around a limb that was being removed
The surgeon would cut _____ in one swift movement using a ____ knife
The ____ would be pulled back to reveal ___, the surgeon quickly ____ removing the limb
The patient would be _____

Answer 1

Not anaesthetised
Hit over head, alcohol given, bite on wooden block/strap
They took no precautions, they didn’t have germ theory yet
Key was speed
Infection, blood loss and shock
The patient would be held down and a rope or tourniquet would be tied around a limb that was being removed
The surgeon would cut deep down to the bone in one swift movement using a curved knife
The flesh would be pulled back to reveal bone, the surgeon quickly saws through the bone removing the limb
The patient would be left to

Question 2

What was the success rate for surgery in the early 19th century? (%)

Answer 2

50%

Question 3

What were the dangers of 19th century surgery?
(PIBS)

Answer 3

Pain
Infection
Blood Loss
Shock

Question 4

Who discovered chloroform? When? What did it do?

Answer 4

James Simpson
1847
Quickly, painlessly and temporarily put people to sleep

Question 5

Was chloroform supported?
(Women, Queen, Church)

Answer 5

Women + Queen - Support it because made pregnancy easier
Church - Don’t support it because it got rid of pain during birth which was put in place by god for sin

Question 6

When was nitrous oxide discovered? When did it become popular?

Answer 6

1844 it was discovered, popular in 1860s

Question 7

Give two pros and cons of nitrous oxide
(reasonably ____, ____ rel____)
(Unwan____ ____ like a drug, not as ____ as ____)

Answer 7

Pros: Reasonably safe and pain relieving
Cons: Unwanted effects like a drug, not as powerful as chloroform

Question 8

Who discovered carbolic spray? When? What did it mean?

Answer 8

Joseph Lister
1867
Infection could be prevented

Question 9

What was the short and long term importance of carbolic spray?
(Surgeries could be ___ and more ____)
(Other ____ built on _____, ______ and ______ became ______, all _____ and ____ were sterile)

Answer 9

Short: Longer and more complicated surgeries became possible
Long: Other doctors built on his ideas, hospitals and operating theatres became cleaner, all equipment and rooms were sterile

Question 10

What did the infection death rate fall from to? (%)

Answer 10

45% to 15%

Question 11

Surgery was made cleaner because of carbolic acid because?

Answer 11

It was used to wash equipment and surgeon’s hands

Question 12

Two cons of carbolic acid were…
(Lungs and patients wound, hands)

Answer 12

Lungs were irritated when breathed in, also the patients wound
Hands of surgeons became sore, blistered and cracked

Question 13

In the late 19th century what would have happened?
Patient anaesthetised?
Tools?
Surgeons?
Carbolic spray on surgeon ___ to sterilise the___?
Patient no longer ___ and surgeons could work ___ and more ___
Wound can now be carefully _____ with _______

Answer 13

Patients anaesthetised with chloroform
Specialist tools sterilised with carbolic acid before operations
Surgeons were now qualified and professionals
Carbolic spray used on surgeon’s hand to sterilise the air
Patient no longer held down and surgeons could work slower and more careful
Wound can now be carefully stitched up with sterilised stitches