Surgery Flashcards
What did James Simpson discover in 1847?
Chloroform
Tested on himself and his friends with no real side effects.
What was a major issue with chloroform in surgery?
Difficult to get the dose right and led to more infections as more complicated surgery attempted.
Who used ether as an anaesthetic in 1846?
Robert Liston
Used to amputate someone’s leg with no pain.
What were some side effects of ether?
Could cause vomiting, irritate the lungs, and lead the patient asleep for days. Highly flammable.
What significant surgical advancement did Lister make in 1865?
Developed antiseptic surgery using carbolic acid.
Realised it was killing germs.
What was the initial reaction to Lister’s antiseptic methods?
Opposed by most doctors and nurses until germ theory proved.
Who discovered X-rays in 1895?
Wilhelm Roentgen
First to study electromagnetic radiation in a systematic way.
What did Landsteiner identify in 1901?
Different blood groups
Determined blood groups A and B have different antigens and antibodies.
What was the significance of Landsteiner’s discovery?
Made blood typing possible for safe blood transfusions.
What did Marie Curie win the Nobel Peace Prize for in 1903?
Her work on radiation
Discovered polonium and radium in 1898.
What did Gillies set up in 1917?
A plastic surgery unit at Queen’s Hospital, Sidcup.
What was one of Gillies’ contributions to surgery?
Experimented with new techniques, such as using bone to create a new nose.
What major developments occurred during WWI (1914-18)?
X-rays, military hospitals, blood transfusions, brain surgery, plastic surgery.
What did Alexander Fleming discover in 1928?
Penicillin
Made a chance discovery from a contaminated Petri dish.
What did Florey and Chain work on in 1939?
Penicillin
Produced a brown powder that kept its antibacterial power longer.
What was the impact of penicillin during World War II?
Saved many lives due to bacterial infections in even minor wounds.
What developments occurred in surgery during WWII (1939-45)?
Plastic surgery, blood transfusions, brain and heart surgery.
