Surgery: Phase 2 Changes in anaesthetics to alleviate pain 1848-1960 Flashcards
Who first experimented with ether in 1846?
An American dentist - he found it to be stronger than laughing gas
Who first used ether in Britain in 1847?
Robert Liston
What was astonishing about ether?
That the patient did not need to be held down to perform surgery.
The patient also woke up not knowing that an operation had taken place
What are the limitations of ether?
It caused vomiting
It irritated the lungs
It caused the patient to cough during the operation
The patient could be asleep for hours or even days
It was unstable
Who discovered the use of chloroform in 1847?
James Simpson
How did James Simpson discover the use of chloroform?
He was experimenting with colleagues and it knocked them all out in under a minute.
He realised this was powerful.
He used to relieve labour pains in childbirth.
How did Queen Victoria make chloroform more acceptable?
She used chloroform with the delivery of her 8th child.
John Snow administered it.
What did John Snow ceate in 1848?
The chloroform inhaler to control the dose.
What were the limitations of chloroform?
Christian Opposition - arguments against relieving the pain of childbirth - it was seen as unnatural
Medical arguments - It was a new and untried gas. Hannah Greener died from chloroform usage in 1848
Blood loss - Anaesthetics did not make surgery safer. Doctors tried longer and deeper surgeries which increased the risk of infection.
Infection - Surgeons still did not understand the importance of hygiene. This meant that infection was still high.
How did the increase in anaesthetics lead to a ‘Black Period’ of surgery
There was an increased number of deaths due to blood loss and infections.
