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History of Trauma Anesthesia and Resuscitation

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Encyclopedia of Trauma Care

Synonyms

Military history; Shock and resuscitation history; Triage history; War history; Wounded transport history

Definition

The history of trauma anesthesia and resuscitation in Western Civilization includes the treatment of pain, hemorrhagic shock, anesthesia, and surgical developments. War involves infliction of trauma and has contributed to and been the benefit of advancements in anesthesia, critical care, and resuscitation. Trauma to the human anatomy has been similar throughout the ages. The methods of treatment have been different and have evolved from ancient times.

Preexisting Conditions

Greek and Roman Era (500 B.C. to 440 A.D.)

Science and medicine developed through the teachings and writings of physicians and philosophers. Hippocrates (460–377 B.C.) used few drugs (cathartics, sedatives), instead relying on the healing power of nature. He described skull fractures (contrecoup) treated by trepanation. Asclepiades (128–40 B.C.) described tracheostomy as elective treatment...

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References

  • Condon-Rall ME (1995) A brief history of military anesthesia, ch. 13. In: Zajtchuk R, Grande CM (eds) Anesthesia and perioperative care of the combat casualty. Office of the Surgeon General at TMM Publications, Washington, DC, pp 855–896

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kasumi Arakawa Professor of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

    Anthony L. Kovac

Authors
  1. Anthony L. Kovac
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anthony L. Kovac .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Anesthesiology, Surgery and Neurosurgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Peter J. Papadakos

  2. Department of Surgery, Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Rochester, School of Medicine, Rochester, New York, USA

    Mark L. Gestring

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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kovac, A.L. (2015). History of Trauma Anesthesia and Resuscitation. In: Papadakos, P.J., Gestring, M.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Trauma Care. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29613-0_486

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29613-0_486

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-29611-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-29613-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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