Tag: Operating room safety

In 1960, surgical fires caused by ether, a once-revolutionary anesthetic, occurred in approximately one in every 100,000 procedures. This fact highlights one of the major reasons behind the pivotal question: why was ether banned in modern medical practice?

On October 16, 1846, William T.G. Morton's public demonstration of ether anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital enabled the first painless surgery, marking a monumental shift in medicine. So, why don't they use ether anymore? The medical field's dramatic shift away from this historic anesthetic is due to its serious inherent risks and the development of far safer, more efficient alternatives.