Anaesthetics for test Flashcards
What were the three key problems with surgery at the start of the 19th century?
Pain, infection, and blood loss.
Why did surgery in the 19th century have to be performed quickly?
To reduce the risks of infection and blood loss and because there were no anaesthetics to keep patients still.
What was a major consequence of the problems with surgery in the 19th century?
High mortality rates, as many patients died of infection even if they survived the operation.
Who was Robert Liston, when was he a well-known surgeon and what was he famous for?
Robert Liston was a famous surgeon in the 1840s. He could In under 40 seconds
Why was it important for Robert Liston’s operations to be so quick?
Due to the lack of anaesthetics (to ensure patients remained still) and the risk of blood loss if operations took too long.
Who was James Simpson, and what did he discover in 1847?
James Simpson was a Scottish doctor who discovered that chloroform was an effective general anaesthetic in 1847.
What did chloroform replace as the most widely used anaesthetic?
Chloroform replaced ether as the most widely used anaesthetic.
How did the discovery of chloroform change surgery?
It allowed patients to remain still during surgery and feel no pain, enabling surgeons to attempt more complex operations.
What were 3 reasons people opposed the use of anaesthetics in surgery?
- Some people in the Church believed pain during childbirth was sent by God and using anaesthetics was interfering with God’s will. 2. Anaesthetics could be dangerous if not used carefully (e.g., Hannah Greener died due to too much chloroform). 3. The British army banned chloroform because some surgeons believed being awake and in pain helped them understand how patients felt.
What invention by John Snow improved the safety of using chloroform?
John Snow invented a chloroform inhaler in the 1850s, which allowed doctors to control the amount of chloroform a patient was given.
How did the chloroform inhaler work?
It mixed chloroform with water vapour, allowing the patient to breathe it in safely and in controlled amounts.
How did Queen Victoria’s use of chloroform in 1853 impact public opinion?
Queen Victoria used chloroform during the birth of her eighth child, and after speaking positively about it, public confidence in its safety and effectiveness increased.
Who was Hannah Greener, and what happened to her?
Hannah Greener was a 15-year-old girl who died during a procedure to remove an ingrown toenail because she was given too much chloroform.
What was the overall impact of anaesthetics?
- Reduced mortality rate (less people dying )
- Reduced infection as could take more time operating. Again less people dying.
- Less pain in all operations for patient.
- Because the patient was not in pain and time was less of an issue surgeons could develop new techniques / more complex operations.
