Surgery CAT scans By Surgeons surgical field of medicine

Surgery CAT scans By Surgeons and evidence of surgery in Neolithic Age

Surgery is a branch of medicine that uses operative procedures to treat injuries, deformities, diseases and disorders. Many surgical procedures include mending broken bones, reattaching severed limbs, removing diseased and injured tissue and organs and stopping uncontrollable bleeding. The surgical field of medicine also includes the diagnoses, preoperative and postoperative care and treatment.

first evidence

The first evidence of surgery was performed in the Neolithic Age about 8000BC. A procedure called Trepanning was performed which relieved pressure in the brain by drilling a hole in the skull. However, the earliest recorded medical writings is from the Egyptians who used various surgical procedures. Surgeons in India were able to remove urinary tract stones as far back as 2000 years ago.

surgical discoveries in old

Many surgical discoveries took place during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

 A French Surgeon named Ambroise Paré made many significant discoveries. He pioneered the method of ligating, or tying off arteries to control profuse bleeding. He has been called the father of modern surgery. Another milestone in the surgery field was in 1846 when an American dentist, William Morton found a way to eliminate pain during surgery.

William Morton is credited with discovering surgical anesthesia.

British Surgeons 2014

This opened the door for many surgical procedures to be performed where it had been too uncomfortable in the past. Nonetheless, postoperative infections remained a problem until 1865 until a British Surgeon, Joseph Lister developed antiseptic techniques used in operating rooms.

This helped minimize infection that developed during surgery. Now that the two biggest problems of surgery (pain and infection) had been addressed, Surgeons in the late 1800's began performing many new types of surgery.

Today, surgery has advanced at a rapid pace. Many diagnostic techniques have been developed. These advances include radiology, ultra sound and CAT scans (computerized axial tomography) all of which provide Surgeons images of the internal structures of the body. Surgeons also use endoscopes, which allow them to diagnose as well as operate on the inside of the body with minimal trauma to the patient.

Needless to say, technology has been a major factor in the growth of the surgical field. Inhalation devices, cardiac defibrillators, cardiac monitoring devices, lasers, anesthesia devices and heart/lung machines are some of the technological advancements.

These devices have provided much needed support equipment to Surgeons. They have allowed them to monitor vital bodily functions accurately as well as help prolong the life of their patients.

Every day new technological advances are being made. New high-tech diagnostic equipment gets better every year, providing invaluable information to the Surgeon. Because of this, Surgeons must continually educate themselves to remain on the cutting edge of medicine.