The history of anesthesia is an evolution of medicine and technology dating back to the mid-1800s. More information can be found at the Web site for the American Society of Anesthesiologists (www.asahq.org, accessed December 2007). Here is an excerpt:

Anesthesia Yesterday

Before the discovery of anesthesia over a century ago, relatively little surgery could be performed. Even a condition like appendicitis, which by current standards is easily treated, was usually fatal in those days.

What eventually evolved into anesthesia as we know it today was ushered in with the chance observation that the inhalation of nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") produced a state of intoxication during which people became highly amused and insensitive to pain.

In 1842, Dr. Crawford Long of Georgia used ether to perform the first painless surgery. Dr. Horace Wells demonstrated painless dentistry under nitrous oxide in 1844. In 1846, Dr. William Morton astonished doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital when he achieved anesthesia with ether. The new science of anesthesiology began to spread around the world. After World War II ended in 1945, major developments in the field of anesthesiology opened new avenues of medical and surgical care that were previously unthinkable. Thus began the modern era of anesthesia, which has advanced enormously, especially in the last two decades.

Anesthesia Training

Modern anesthesia has grown to encompass peri-operative medicine (relating to an operation), intensive-care medicine, pain management and delivery of intra-operative care for increasingly specialized and complex surgeries. After becoming doctors, anesthesiologists must train one or more years in any combination of either internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, neurology, family practice, critical care or pediatrics. This is followed by three years of anesthesia "residency" that involves training in pediatric, cardiac, vascular, neurologic, obstetric, trauma and general anesthesia. Anesthesia residents are also trained in intensive-care medicine, pain management and peri-operative medicine.

The anesthesiologist must have detailed knowledge of pharmacology, physiology, medical and surgical conditions, and critical-care equipment and procedures. Such training allows anesthesiologists to provide expert patient care during all surgeries and procedures, from the simple to the most delicate and complex.