Journey of Anaesthesia

 "Doctor, your patient is ready for surgery. "

On 16 October, 1846,in Massachusetts, Dr William TG Morton,an enterprising Dentist, anaesthetised a patient for removal of tumor over his neck,using open drop method Anaesthesia using Ether.

Modern Age Anaesthesia entered public consciousness for the first time on this day.

Every year,Ether Day,is celebrated on 16,October as Mark of respect.

In 1853,Chloroform was made popular by John Snow .He administered this gas through a silk kerchief to Queen Victoria, while she was giving birth to her 8th child,Prince Leopold.

From 1844 to mid fifties,Nitrous oxide( Laughing gas),Ether and Chloroform continued to be popular. Later shifting to Halothane,then Enflurane and in 1992 to Isoflurane.

Mahatma Gandhi underwent Emmergency Appendix removal in 1925 in Sassoon Hospital, Pune.Dr Date administered Chloroform Open drop method Anaesthesia. 

Local Anaesthesia in form of Coccaine 4% was used in 1894.

Spinal Anaesthesia practice came in 1898.

Epidural block started in 1921.

In India,in 1925,Dr G.R.Kokatnur from Belgaum, Karnataka used to administer Lumbar and Caudal Extradural analgesia.

Endotracheal Intubation was done blind procedure in 1880 for Osteosarcoma of Hard Palate.

Chevalier Jackson introduced Direct Laryngoscopy in 1913 for Tracheal Intubation. Janeway,Anaesthetist from New York,popularized this procedure. 

In 1953,Bjirn Ibsen,from Norway ,set up 1st ICU in Europe, in response to Polio Epidemic.

Formal Post Graduation training in Anaesthesia was started in 1935 as a Diploma of 1 year training. 

It was only after 1948,NHS recognized Anaesthesia as a Speciality department. 

From Jars,Silk kerchief to Modern day Work Stations.

Sterile needles,Disposable syringes,Gloves.

Computer controlled Gadgets,Ventilators,Bronchoscopes..

Electronic Machines,Technology...

Providing information on both patient care and proper functioning of Equipment. 

Anaesthesia practice has come a long way.

Today, Anaesthesiologist has entered all domains and departments of Surgery,Obstetrics, Medicine,......Neurology,Oncology,Urology,Laparoscopic, Cardiac, Radiology,Ophthalmology,....list is endless. 

Anaesthesiologist has come out of Operation theatre. 

Now running Intensive Care Units,Emmergency Care Unit.

Doing Pain Relief in Labor Analgesia,Chronic Pain Analgesia,Cancer Care and Palliative care and treatment. 

Catering to all age groups....Intrauterine fetus,Newborn babies to Geriatrics...Centenarian. 

So dear readers,next time you meet your Anaesthesiologist......and ask.." Are you a Doctor?"........

The answer will be" A proud Anaesthesiologist ".