Anaesthesia
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Biography Historical Article
Archie Brain: celebrating 30 years of development in laryngeal mask airways.
The practice of anaesthesia was revolutionised by the ideas of Archie Brain. The routine use of a facemask to manage the airway was not a hands-free technique, despite the development of various harnesses, and made adequate record-keeping difficult. ⋯ Brain developed an airway management device that was less stressful to the patient than tracheal intubation, and was, however, as safe as using a facemask and airway. Brain also hoped his device would function for cases where mask ventilation was particularly difficult and thus give anaesthetists a safer alternative to a complex intubation, especially in emergency scenarios.
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Editorial Comment
The sting in the tail: antiseptics and the neuraxis revisited.