Anesthesia Tech Day is celebrated on March 31 every year. The day honors technologists and technicians for their contributions toward anesthesiology and healthcare. Anesthesiologists are integral members of the global medical field, and their efforts are unparalleled.
It’s a day of education for aspiring medical and healthcare professionals, a celebration of scientific breakthroughs, and fundraising for future research. Learn about the history of anesthesia, including the discoveries that made surgical treatment more comfortable for patients.
The origin of anesthesia dates back to ancient times when Babylons, Greeks, and Chinese used natural herbs to be taken orally. Later in the 1200s, Italian physician and bishop Theodoric of Lucca used sponges soaked in mandrake plant extract and opium to relieve surgical pain. The breakthrough of actual medical anesthesia that we know today didn’t come immediately.
Throughout the centuries, patients who underwent surgery had to tolerate the pain or rely on opium, alcohol, or even a bullet to bite to relieve the agony. When the Civil War came, and soldiers had to undergo surgeries and amputations regularly, it was clear that developing more advanced anesthesia had to be a priority for medical professionals.
The first surgical procedure that used anesthesia was in 1846. Dentist William T.G. Morton of Boston Massachusetts used sulfuric ether to anesthetize a patient for a vascular tumor removal surgery.
Morton called this discovery ‘Letheon’ after the Lethe River of Greek mythology which was described as a powerful river that helps remove painful memories. He gained financial success after this discovery.
The vast evolution took place in attempts to improve the performance of anesthesia in the medical field. This includes the discovery of laughing gas in 1844 and the successful use of cocaine as a spinal anesthetic in 1898. In 1902, Dr. Mathias J. Seifert of Chicago patented the terms ‘anesthesiology’ and ‘anesthesiology.’
Today, modern anesthesia is a standard tool for medicine and surgeries and tailored according to a patient’s needs. From dentistry, and cosmetics, to general medicine, anesthesia has come a long way.
