Middle East journal of anaesthesiology
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Middle East J Anaesthesiol · Oct 1979
Historical ArticleAnesthesia and the development of surgery (1846-1896).
The hypothesis that the introduction of anesthesia in 1846 accelerated the development of surgery was tested by compiling statistics on the types of operations performed in this country and abroad in the absence of anesthesia (prior to 1846) and over the 50-year period after 1846. Prior to 1846, surgery involved the extremities and superficial parts of the body almost exclusively. ⋯ The introduction of anesthesia was necessary before surgery could advance, but control of infection, establishment of the sciences of pathology and physiology, and development of professionalism in clinical medicine and surgery based on research and teaching were also required. Almost a half-century lapsed after the introduction of anesthesia before surgery advanced significantly beyond the stage it was at prior to the introduction of anesthesia in 1846.
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Middle East J Anaesthesiol · Oct 1979
Preventive measure against nitrous oxide induced volume and pressure changes of endotracheal tube cuffs.
Endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff volume and pressure changes were studied in patients receiving 70% and 50% nitrous oxide for anaesthesia. ETT cuffs were inflated with either room air or inhalation mixture. There was a significant increase in cuff volumes and pressures in ETT cuffs containing room air compared to insignificant changes in cuffs containing the inhalation mixture during a two hour study period. A simple measure of substitution of air by the inspired anaesthetic gases for ETT cuff inflation is highly beneficial in the prevention of detrimental changes due to excessive increase in cuff volumes and pressure during nitrous oxide administration.