Dangers in Surgery (Pain, Infection, and Bleeding) Flashcards
What were the three types of pain relief
Alcohol, a form of opium, and being knocked unconcious
Because of the limited pain relief what were operations like
There was a man who’s role was to hold the patient down
What were the best surgeons like
The ones who were the fastest not the most skilled
Why is Robert Liston famous
He was very fast in surgeries needing only 30 seconds for amputations. He has a 300% death rate surgery, he chopped off his assistants 2 fingers he died of infection, a spectator died of a heart attack bc. the vicious scene, and the patient died as well
What was used to reduce blood loss in the late 18th century
A tourniquet
Why were most surgeries short
Due to worries of blood loss
Was there any understand of how infection occured
No
What did surgeons wear to surgery
Old clothes splattered with blood and pus from previous operations
How were equipment cleaned before carbolic acid
Wiped or washed not sterilized
How clean were bandages before lister
Not very they were washed and reused after operations
What increased infection rates greatly
Many students, sponsors, and others would spectate surgeries in a small operating room
Why was ether used in surgeries
1846 For the first time patients didn’t need to be held down and were unaware of operations after they took place
What are some side effects of ether
Vomiting, lung irritation, left patients asleep for days, flammable (most operation rooms were lit by candles)
What other solution for pain did James Simpson find
Chloroform
What could chloroform do
Make a patient lose consciousness without the side effects of using ether
