WHAT WERE THE 3 MAIN PROBLEMS WITH SURGERY ? PAIN INFECTIO N BLEEDING

Lesson Objectives To know and understand the difference between antiseptic and aseptic surgery?

FIGHTING INFECTION Joseph Lister realised that germs in the theatre had to be destroyed. He used carbolic acid to kill germs, having seen it used in sewers. ANTISEPTIC.Carbolic Acid was the first ANTISEPTIC.

Joseph Lister and Carbolic Acid

What were the problems with antiseptics?

It was unpleasant to work with It burnt the skin of doctors and nurses It irritated the lungs

So, rather than trying to fight the germs, surgeons in Germany developed techniques for keeping them away… These techniques were called ASEPTIC SURGERY OR ASEPSIS

Fighting Infection In 1878 Robert Koch discovered that bacteria caused septicaemia. He also discovered that hot steam killed more germs than carbolic acid. He introduced ASEPTIC surgery as a result. The Aseptic method is applied to all equipment in the theatre, creating a ‘germ free’ environment.

So, how was aseptic surgery different from antiseptic?  The idea was to keep the germs out of the operating theatre.  All instruments were scrupulously cleaned and surgeons’ hands and clothes were all thoroughly sterilised A chamber was also used to pass superheated steam over the instruments, thus killing the germs without the need for disinfecting chemicals

Rubber gloves!… The “father” of American surgery, William Halsted, introduced a further innovation. His nurse complained that the antiseptic chemicals were harming her hands, so Halsted asked the Goodyear Rubber Company to make some gloves… Halsted realised that the gloves were protecting the patients as well as the nurse….. …so he introduced caps, masks and gowns for surgery

ANTISEPTIC SURGERY – is when the germs that are already present are killed. ASEPTIC SURGERY – is when the germs are removed before surgery happens.