UNIT 3/ Transformation of Surgery

What was surgery like before c1850?

PAIN

• Surgeons did not have reliable pain killers
• In any case, most surgeons opposed any form of pain relief
• Others, tried to reduce pain eg alcohol
• effect - need for quick operations otherwise paitents would often die of shock

BLOOD LOSS

• no effective methods of replacing this
• Blood transfusions were tried using animals and other people - failed
• Ligaments and clamps were used to limit blood loss
• effect - avoid blood loss, surgeons had to work very quickly

INFECTION

• Surgical operations were dirty and unhygienic
• Tools and bandages were never clean
• No understanding of germs and what they did
• about 2/3 of paitents died from post surgical infection
• effect - surgeons were afraid to operate for too long

The development of anaesthetics

NITROUS OXIDE

• first used in 1799
• become popular amongst dentists
• did not make patients completely unconscious
• so, patients sometimes did not wake up

ETHER

• first used in 1846
• irritated the eys and lungs causing coughing and sneezing
• could catch fire if close to flame
• horrible smell
• unpopular with many surgeons

Why was Chloroform a good anaesthetic?

• more reliable
• it was odourless so not uncomfortable to use

Why did some people oppose chloroform?

• 1848, Hannah Greener dies whilst being given chloroform…