A Brief History of Anaesthesia
Keywords:
Pain, Inhalation anaesthesia, Local anaesthesia, Infiltration anaesthesia, Regional anaesthesia
Abstract
According to the definition of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), pain is defined as: "Unpleasant subjective feeling and emotional experience associated with current or potential tissue damage of a particular localisation", which, as such, poses a challenge for epidemiological research to determine its frequency and prevalence.
We have all heard the motto that surgery has experienced its unprecedented development on the wings of anaesthesia. This is most certainly the case, since it is precisely the pain that prevents any invasive procedure on the human body, hence the very elimination of pain has opened up the way for the application and development of surgery. For this reason, the skill and now the science of anaesthesia are epochal civilizational achievements, which is why it is worth remembering the attempts and successes of its application. The very beginning of mankind cannot be imagined without the humans facing some sort of pain. As long ago as about 460 to 370 BC, the renowned Greek physician Hippocrates (in Greek:'Iποκράτης'), who is nowadays considered the founder of modern medicine, stated: "To reduce pain is a divine deed" or, in Latin: Sedare dolorem, opus divinum est!
The article presents Morton's discovery of inhalation anesthesia, now as far back as in 1846, its development, introduction of other modes of anaesthesia, local, infiltration and regional, use of neuromuscular blockers and auxiliary procedures, such as endotracheal intubation and fiberoptic bronchoscopy, without which modern anaesthesia is inconceivable today.
References
1- Jürgen Thorwald. A century of surgery. ZORA, Zagreb 1958; pp 115.
2- Vučović D. History of anesthesia. SJAIT 2012/1-2, Beograd 2012; 147-150.
3- Long, CW . An account of the first use of Sulphuric Ether by Inhalation as an Anaesthetic in Surgical Operations. Southern Medical and Surgical Journal 1849; 5: 705–713.
4- Haridas, Rajesh. Horace Wells' Demonstration of Nitrous Oxide in Boston. Anesthesiology 2013. nov; 119(5):1014-22.
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7- Calton. John Snow's practice of obstetric anesthesia.Anesthesiolgy 2000 Jan; 92(1):247-52.
8- R. Miller, MD. Milleˈs Anesthesia. Philadelphia 2009; 1:24
9- F. Trendelenburg: Beiträge zu den Operationen an den Luftwegen.[von Langenbeck’s] Archiv für klinische Chirurgie, Berlin 1871; 12: 112-133.
10-Macewen, W . Clinical observations on the introduction of tracheal tubes by the mouth instead of performing tracheotomy or laryngotomy” British Medical Journal 3 1880; 122–4, 163–5.
11- Koller C. Vorlaufige Mittheilung uber locale Anasthesirung am Auge.(Preliminary report on local anesthesia of the eye) Bericht uber sechzehnte Versammlung der ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Heidelberg 1884.Universitats-Buchdruckerei von Adler's Erben, Rostock; pp.60–3
12- Gerald, Ember . Genius on the Edge: The Bizarre Double Life of Dr William Stewart Halsted. Anesthesiology 2011; 114 (6): 1496–7.
13- Schleich CL. Die Infiltrationsanasthesie (locale Anasthesie) und ihr Verhaltniss zur allgemeinen Narcose (Inhalationsanasthesie). (Infiltration anesthesia (local anesthesia) in relation to general anesthesia (inhalational anesthesia)) Verhandlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Chirurgie 1892; 21:121-8
14- Bier A. Versuche uber Cocainisirung des Ruckenmarkes. Experiments on the cocainization of the spinal cord. Deutsche Zeitschrift fur Chirurgie 1899; 51:361-9
15- Fourneau E. Stovaïne, anesthésique local, in Bull. Sc. pharmacolog.1904; 10: 141.
16- Hans Loewe. Vom Cocain zum Novocain. Arzneimittelforschung 1956; 6:43–50
17- Gwathmey J T. The story of oil-ether colonic anesthesia. Anesthesiology 1942; 3:171-5
18- Gurinder M.Vasdev, Douglas R. Bacon. Rectal Analgesia for Labor and Delivery: An Historical Assessment. October 2009; 27: 44-6
19- Bodman R, Gillies D. Harold Griffith. The Evolution of Modern Anaesthesia 1992.
20- Gillies D, Wynands JE. Harold Randall Griffith. The pioneer of the use of muscle relaxants in anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth 1986; 58:943-5.
21- Murphy P. A fibreroptic endoscope used for nasal intubation. Anaesthesia 2010 Nov; 65(11):1133-6.
22- Frampton, M. Embodiments of Will: Anatomical and Physiological Theories of Voluntary Animal Motionfrom Greek Antiquity to the Latin Middle Ages, 400 B.C.–A.D. 1300. VDM Verlag Dr. Müller 2008; pp. 180—323
23- Pearce JMS. Cotugno and cerebrospinal fluid. Article in Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry Sep. 2004;75(9):1299
24- Sourkes, Theodore L. Magendie and the chemists: The earliest chemical analyses of the cerebrospinal fluid. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences. March 2002; 11(1): 2–10.
25- Magendie F. Experiences sur les fonctions des raciness des nerfs rachidiens. J. Physiol Exper Path 1822; 2:276-9.
26-Frederiks JA, Koehler PJ. The first lumbar puncture. J Hist Neurosci 1997. Aug; 6(2):147-53.
27- Quincke H. Die Lumbal punction des Hyudrocephalus. Berlin klinische Wochenschrift 1891; 28:929-33.
28- Bier A. Versuche uber Cocainisirung des Ruckenmarkes. Deutsche Zeitschrift fur Chirurgie 1899; 51:361-9.
29- Corning, JL. New York Medical Journal 1885; 42: 483-5.
30-Bier, A. Deutsche Zeitschrift fur Chirurgie. 1899; 51: 361-9.
31- Suzette Singh, M.D., Galina Leyvi, M.D., Maria A. Acorn Hall: A Place Where The First Neuraxial Anesthetic Happened. The Anesthesiologi Annual Meeting October 22, 2016; A1283
32- Matas R. Local and regional anesthesia with cocaine and other analgesic drugs, including the subarachnoid method, as applied in general surgical practice. Philadelph Med J. 1900; 6:820-43.
33- Larson MD, Tait and Caglieri. The First Spinal Anesthetic in America. Anesthesiology 1996; 85:913–9.
34-Lemmon WT. A method for continuous spinal anesthesia. Ann surg 1940 Jan; 111(1):141-4.
35- Adriana J, Roman-Vega D. Saddle block anesthesia. Am J. surg 1946; 71:12.
36- Wang JK, Nauss LA, Thomas JE. Pain relief by intrathecally applied morphine in man. Anesthesiology 1979; 50:149-151.
37- Sicard A. Les injections medicamenteuses extra-durales par voie sacrococcygienne. Compt Rend Soc De Biol 1901;53:396–8.
38- Cathelin F. Une nouvelle voie d’injection rachidienne: methode des injections epidurales par le procede du canal sacre— applications a l’homme. Compt Rend Soc De Biol 1901;53:452–3.
39- Pages F. Anestesia metamerica. Rev de la sanidad militar 1921; 11: 351-65;385-96.
40- Dogliotti AM. Anesthesia Narcosis.Local.Regional.Spinal. The American Journal of Surgery Chicago 1940; vol.48: pp 479.
41- Ruiz V. Pages. Peridural Anesthesia A Report of 3,826 Cases. Minn Med 22 1939; 363-68.
42- Soresi AL. Epidubdural anesthesia. Anesth Analg 1937;16:306-310.
43- Curelaru I, Sandu L. Eugen B. A.The pioneer of regional analgesia for pain relief in childbirth. Anaesthesia 1982; 37:663-669.
2- Vučović D. History of anesthesia. SJAIT 2012/1-2, Beograd 2012; 147-150.
3- Long, CW . An account of the first use of Sulphuric Ether by Inhalation as an Anaesthetic in Surgical Operations. Southern Medical and Surgical Journal 1849; 5: 705–713.
4- Haridas, Rajesh. Horace Wells' Demonstration of Nitrous Oxide in Boston. Anesthesiology 2013. nov; 119(5):1014-22.
5- Pernick MS. A Calculus of Suffering: Pain, Professionalism and Anesthesia in Nineteenth-Century America. New York, NY. Columbia University Press 1985; pp 421.
6- Voloshin I, Bernini, P. M. Nickolay Ivanovich Pirogoff. Innovative scientist and clinician. Spine.1998; 23 (19): 2143–6.
7- Calton. John Snow's practice of obstetric anesthesia.Anesthesiolgy 2000 Jan; 92(1):247-52.
8- R. Miller, MD. Milleˈs Anesthesia. Philadelphia 2009; 1:24
9- F. Trendelenburg: Beiträge zu den Operationen an den Luftwegen.[von Langenbeck’s] Archiv für klinische Chirurgie, Berlin 1871; 12: 112-133.
10-Macewen, W . Clinical observations on the introduction of tracheal tubes by the mouth instead of performing tracheotomy or laryngotomy” British Medical Journal 3 1880; 122–4, 163–5.
11- Koller C. Vorlaufige Mittheilung uber locale Anasthesirung am Auge.(Preliminary report on local anesthesia of the eye) Bericht uber sechzehnte Versammlung der ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Heidelberg 1884.Universitats-Buchdruckerei von Adler's Erben, Rostock; pp.60–3
12- Gerald, Ember . Genius on the Edge: The Bizarre Double Life of Dr William Stewart Halsted. Anesthesiology 2011; 114 (6): 1496–7.
13- Schleich CL. Die Infiltrationsanasthesie (locale Anasthesie) und ihr Verhaltniss zur allgemeinen Narcose (Inhalationsanasthesie). (Infiltration anesthesia (local anesthesia) in relation to general anesthesia (inhalational anesthesia)) Verhandlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Chirurgie 1892; 21:121-8
14- Bier A. Versuche uber Cocainisirung des Ruckenmarkes. Experiments on the cocainization of the spinal cord. Deutsche Zeitschrift fur Chirurgie 1899; 51:361-9
15- Fourneau E. Stovaïne, anesthésique local, in Bull. Sc. pharmacolog.1904; 10: 141.
16- Hans Loewe. Vom Cocain zum Novocain. Arzneimittelforschung 1956; 6:43–50
17- Gwathmey J T. The story of oil-ether colonic anesthesia. Anesthesiology 1942; 3:171-5
18- Gurinder M.Vasdev, Douglas R. Bacon. Rectal Analgesia for Labor and Delivery: An Historical Assessment. October 2009; 27: 44-6
19- Bodman R, Gillies D. Harold Griffith. The Evolution of Modern Anaesthesia 1992.
20- Gillies D, Wynands JE. Harold Randall Griffith. The pioneer of the use of muscle relaxants in anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth 1986; 58:943-5.
21- Murphy P. A fibreroptic endoscope used for nasal intubation. Anaesthesia 2010 Nov; 65(11):1133-6.
22- Frampton, M. Embodiments of Will: Anatomical and Physiological Theories of Voluntary Animal Motionfrom Greek Antiquity to the Latin Middle Ages, 400 B.C.–A.D. 1300. VDM Verlag Dr. Müller 2008; pp. 180—323
23- Pearce JMS. Cotugno and cerebrospinal fluid. Article in Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry Sep. 2004;75(9):1299
24- Sourkes, Theodore L. Magendie and the chemists: The earliest chemical analyses of the cerebrospinal fluid. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences. March 2002; 11(1): 2–10.
25- Magendie F. Experiences sur les fonctions des raciness des nerfs rachidiens. J. Physiol Exper Path 1822; 2:276-9.
26-Frederiks JA, Koehler PJ. The first lumbar puncture. J Hist Neurosci 1997. Aug; 6(2):147-53.
27- Quincke H. Die Lumbal punction des Hyudrocephalus. Berlin klinische Wochenschrift 1891; 28:929-33.
28- Bier A. Versuche uber Cocainisirung des Ruckenmarkes. Deutsche Zeitschrift fur Chirurgie 1899; 51:361-9.
29- Corning, JL. New York Medical Journal 1885; 42: 483-5.
30-Bier, A. Deutsche Zeitschrift fur Chirurgie. 1899; 51: 361-9.
31- Suzette Singh, M.D., Galina Leyvi, M.D., Maria A. Acorn Hall: A Place Where The First Neuraxial Anesthetic Happened. The Anesthesiologi Annual Meeting October 22, 2016; A1283
32- Matas R. Local and regional anesthesia with cocaine and other analgesic drugs, including the subarachnoid method, as applied in general surgical practice. Philadelph Med J. 1900; 6:820-43.
33- Larson MD, Tait and Caglieri. The First Spinal Anesthetic in America. Anesthesiology 1996; 85:913–9.
34-Lemmon WT. A method for continuous spinal anesthesia. Ann surg 1940 Jan; 111(1):141-4.
35- Adriana J, Roman-Vega D. Saddle block anesthesia. Am J. surg 1946; 71:12.
36- Wang JK, Nauss LA, Thomas JE. Pain relief by intrathecally applied morphine in man. Anesthesiology 1979; 50:149-151.
37- Sicard A. Les injections medicamenteuses extra-durales par voie sacrococcygienne. Compt Rend Soc De Biol 1901;53:396–8.
38- Cathelin F. Une nouvelle voie d’injection rachidienne: methode des injections epidurales par le procede du canal sacre— applications a l’homme. Compt Rend Soc De Biol 1901;53:452–3.
39- Pages F. Anestesia metamerica. Rev de la sanidad militar 1921; 11: 351-65;385-96.
40- Dogliotti AM. Anesthesia Narcosis.Local.Regional.Spinal. The American Journal of Surgery Chicago 1940; vol.48: pp 479.
41- Ruiz V. Pages. Peridural Anesthesia A Report of 3,826 Cases. Minn Med 22 1939; 363-68.
42- Soresi AL. Epidubdural anesthesia. Anesth Analg 1937;16:306-310.
43- Curelaru I, Sandu L. Eugen B. A.The pioneer of regional analgesia for pain relief in childbirth. Anaesthesia 1982; 37:663-669.
Published
2020/09/30
Issue
Section
History of medicine article
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