Anaesthesia and intensive care
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2020
Historical ArticleThe French Academy of Sciences: Deliberations related to the discovery of anaesthesia.
In the mid-19th century, the French Academy of Sciences was one of the oldest and most prominent scientific institutions in the world. Individuals seeking credit for the discovery of surgical anaesthesia contacted the French academy to achieve recognition from this prestigious body of scientists and to spread news of the discovery throughout continental Europe. The French Academy of Sciences was established under the reign of King Louis XIV in 1666 with the goal of supporting and advancing scientific research. ⋯ Since anaesthesia had already been tested in the United States and Great Britain, the main contributions of the French academy deliberations included refining administration techniques and documenting the effects of anaesthesia on animals and humans. Recognition of surgical anaesthesia by the French Academy of Sciences and the swift adoption of its use in surgical practice throughout the country lent credibility to this new discovery and enabled the discipline of surgery to progress. Nevertheless, the academy was not able to solve the initial problem for which they may have been contacted-the dispute about which individual deserved credit for the discovery of anaesthesia.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2020
Historical ArticleDavid John Thomas and the first operation under etherisation in Melbourne.
The first patient etherised by David John Thomas was James Egan, an Irish bounty immigrant who lived on a pastoral lease about 120 km from Melbourne. Egan had injured his left hand and forearm in a shooting accident. ⋯ In September 1847, Thomas presented a paper on etherisation at a monthly meeting of the Port Phillip Medical Association-this is the earliest known presentation of a paper on etherisation in the Australian colonies. The original manuscript of Dr Thomas is now held by the Medical History Museum at the University of Melbourne.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2020
Perioperative shared decision-making in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand: Audit results from a complex decision pathway quality improvement initiative using a structured communication tool.
Patients presenting for elective surgery in the Bay of Plenty area in New Zealand are increasingly elderly with significant medical comorbidities. For these patients the risk-benefit balance of undergoing surgery can be complex. ⋯ We describe the setup of a complex decision pathway within our district health board and report on the audit data from our first 49 patients. The complex decision pathway encourages surgeons to identify high-risk patients who will benefit from shared decision-making, manages input from multiple specialists as needed with excellent communication between those specialists, and provides a patient-centred approach to decision-making using a structured communication tool.