The Development of General Anesthesia

By Samvogl1

  • First use of inhaled anesthetics

    William T. G. Morton publicly and successfully demonstrates the first use of inhaled anesthesia during a surgical procedure.

  • Nitrous Oxide used

    Dr. Edmund Andrews proposes using nitrous oxide as a method of anesthesia.

  • Introduction of Cocaine as an Anesthetic

    Cocaine was used for a nerve block of the jaw by Dr. William S.

  • First Anesthesia observed by respiratory and pulse

    First anesthesia record using observed respiratory rate and palpated pulse rate.

  • First spinal cord block using cocaine

    Dr. August Bier conducted a nerve block of the spinal cord using cocaine.

  • Words 'anesthesiology and 'anesthesiologist' are coined

    Dr. Mathias J. Seifert of Chicago coins the words ‘anesthesiology’ and ‘anesthesiologist.’ He asserted that an ‘anesthetist’ is a technician and an ‘anesthesiologist’ is the scientific authority on anesthesia and anesthetics.

  • CO2 Absorbing Anesthesia System

    Developed in 1914, allowing patients to re-breathe exhaled air containing anesthetic cleansed of carbon dioxide

  • Anesthetic used as a muscle relaxer

    Drs. Griffith and Johnson create the world’s 1st successful use of anesthetics as a muscle relaxant.

  • Desflurane is clinically introduced as an inhalational anesthetic.

  • Safe ventilation system use

    The ASA publishes its first Difficult Airway Algorithm, specifying a safe and systematic approach to assisted ventilation in patients under general anesthesia.

  • Sevoflurane is clinically introduced as an inhalational anesthetic.