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For anyone who has ever needed surgery, a surgical-like procedure, or received any combination of drugs in a medical setting to reduce pain, the work of an anesthesiologist may sound familiar. It is the work of an anesthesiologist to block the feeling of pain in a medical setting. Matthew Uhlenkott of Aurora, Colorado is a resident Anesthesiologist who practices his specialty, performs research related to the field of anesthesia, and publishes his articles for the use and knowledge of other doctors. “An anesthesiologist is a physician who specializes in anesthesia and must complete their undergraduate education, four years of medical school, and four years of residency,” explains Matthew Uhlenkott of Aurora, Colorado. There are different levels of anesthesia. "When patients are rendered unconscious and unable to feel pain, that is called general anesthesia. It is the type of sedation most people are familiar with," explains Matthew Uhlenkott of Aurora, Colorado. However, there are other forms of anesthesia: - local anesthesia stops the pain in a specific area of the body
- regional anesthesia numbs a region of the body
- spinal anesthesia blocks pain for the lower abdomen, pelvic, and rectal area of the body
- epidural anesthesia which generally blocks pain from lower limbs for childbirth but can be used for many other procedures including thoracic surgery.
While many advances in healthcare have been made in the last century, the history of anesthesia dates back to the mid-1800s. "The first real use of drugs for surgery was the inhalation of laughing gas which worked to produce an intoxicated-like state," explains Matthew Uhlenkott of Aurora, Colorado. Before the use of the gas, even surgeries considered minor today were usually quite painful. While there is argument about the use of gas and drugs to reduce pain prior to the 1800s it was by the 1840s and after that using gas for surgical procedures including dental work kicked off. "The notion of using gas to block pain was controversial and believed by many to be a show. However, repeated demonstrations in hospitals led to an increased interest in the ability to provide surgery without pain," says Matthew Uhlenkott of Aurora, Colorado. "The first painless surgery was performed by Dr. Crawford Long in 1842. It was Dr. Horace Wells who used nitrous oxide in 1844 for dentistry. However, it was after World War II that anesthesia entered the modern era. For more information about anesthesia or the history behind the practice, Matthew Uhlenkott of Aurora, Colorado suggests reading more about the specialty from sites like: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/surgical_care/types_of_anesthesia_and_your_anesthesiologist_85,P01391/
http://www.histansoc.org.uk/timeline.html
http://www.pamf.org/Anesthesiology/patients/history.html
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Matthew Uhlenkott, Anesthesiologists,
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