Overview

Recent advances in anesthesia have made surgery markedly safer. Below is at timeline of major anesthesia advances.

Ether machine from 1912

1846

William Morton gave the first public demonstration of ether use at Massachusetts General Hospital. A minor neck procedure was done.

1847

Chloroform is used in England to relieve the pain of labor. The use of ether during Queen Victoria' s labor led to approval of analgesia for labor pain.

1884

Cocaine ( a local anesthetic) is used in Vienna to numb the cornea for eye surgery. Around this time cocaine was used as the first agent for spinal anesthesia. 

Early 1900's

Due to the toxicity of cocaine other local anesthetics such as novocaine were synthesized. Around this time many of the regional techniques such as spinal anesthesia and arm blocks were refined.

Late 1920's

Barbituates are first used for the induction of anesthesia. Sodium Pentothal is a barbituate most people associate with anesthesia. In 1927 Ralph Waters starts the first residency program in anesthesia at the University of Wisconsin.

1936

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is formed with 484 national members. Today the membership is over 30,000.

1942

The muscle relaxant curare is given to facilitate abdominal surgery. Around this time the technique of endotracheal intubation (breathing tube for surgery) is refined.

Mid 1950's

Halothane is synthesized and released into clinical practice. It was initially considered an ideal inhalation agent. Once cases of hepatitis secondary to the agent emerged, its popularity declined.

1960's to present

Multiple advances are made in anesthesia. Numerous inhaled agents and narcotic drugs are developed and released into clinical practice. Anesthesia equipment is designed with multiple levels of alarms and safety devices to prevent mishaps. Advances in both surgical and anesthetic technique make open heart surgery possible. Monitoring of patients under anesthesia is markedly advanced. Today anesthesiologists  possess a wide variety of drugs and techniques to make your surgery safe and your awakening rapid.