Surgery: Phase 4 Accelerating change in surgery 1975-1905 Flashcards
What helped Lister’s antiseptic ideas to be accepted?
Koch discovered the microorganism that caused blood poisoning in 1878
What is aseptic surgery?
Surgery performed under sterilised conditions.
Surgeons wore clean clothes, masks and rubber gloves
How did aseptic surgery develop?
The discovery of antiseptics by Lister brought a breakthrough.
In 1878, Koch discovered the microorganism causing septicaemia which led to more support for Lister.
Koch introduced aseptic surgery after discovering heat killed more germs.
Later, surgeons hands and nails were found to carry bacteria and so they were told to wear gloves.
What did aseptic surgery lead to?
Operating theatres and hospitals being rigorously cleaned
From 1887, instruments were steam-sterilised
1894, sterilised rubber gloves were used for the first time
In 1896, this led to the first heart operation to repair a stab wound.
What further experiments were there with anaesthetics?
1874 Ore administers the first intravenous general anaesthetic in humans in modern times.
1884 – first clinical use of cocaine in Russia
1897 first spinal anaesthetic administered in Germany.
1898 Bayer Company introduces heroin, first synthesized from morphine in 1874, for use as a non-addictive painkiller. It was later found to be more addictive than morphine and the company removed it from the market.
1903: Working at the Pasteur Institute, Ernest Fourneau develops the first synthetic local anaesthetic - Amylocaine (Stovaine).
Ethyl Chloride is popularised as a general anaesthetic.
1905: Alfred Einhor develops Procaine (Novocaine).
How did Lister try to solve the problem of blood loss?
Arteries and veins that were cut open during surgery were sealed through cauterisation or would be tied together with ligatures
Lister experimented with silk ligatures soaked in carbolic acid
In 1881, he published the results of using catgut (sheep intestines) soaked in carbolic acid. It would dissolve in the body so did not prevent the body from healing.
How had blood transfusions developed?
The first attempt at a blood transfusion was described by the 15th Century
In 1818, Dr James Blundell performed the first successful blood transfusion.
It was not until 1901, when Karl Landsteiner discovered blood groups that it became safer.
Blood transfusions could now be carried out safer and had a huge impact on surgery.
What were the limitations to changes in blood transfusions?
The main problem was that the blood donor had to be present for it to take place.
Blood starts to clot as soon as it leaves the body so tubes became blocked.
How were x-rays developed?
1895, William Rontgen discovered the technology behind X-rays. He published his findings
In as early as 1896, many hospitals had an X-ray machine installed.
They could see broken bones which meant they could be set properly. Surgeons could also see bullets or shrapnel making surgery quicker and safer.
