New Frontiers of Surgery
Explore the innovations that have transformed the world of surgery since the mid-1800s.
The first public operation using a general anaesthetic (to make the patient unconscious) took place at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1842. Survival rates didn’t improve however until the 1870s, when Joseph Lister invented his antiseptic apparatus. This was a spray that killed germs by covering both the patient and the surgeon in a fine mist of carbolic acid.
Together, anaesthetics and antiseptics totally transformed surgery. Death rates from infection plummeted, and surgeons could attempt more ambitious operations.
One such operation is an organ transplant, which has transformed many people’s lives. Today, surgeons can transplant a wide range of organs including the cornea, liver, heart and heart valves, pancreas, kidneys, skin and bone marrow.
Modern surgeons use developments like laser and keyhole surgery to reduce the risks and complications even further. Keyhole techniques can turn a major operation into a minor one. Microsurgery allows delicate operations to be performed by using microscopes. For example, the thread used in cornea transplants is thinner than a human hair.
Push the boundaries of science in this fascinating gallery. What do you think will happen in the future of surgery?
