Every year on October 16, the global anaesthesia community commemorates World Anaesthesia Day.
The College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Sri Lanka participates in this celebration, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and advocating for safe anaesthesia practices. The term “Anaesthesia” is defined as a method capable of reversibly deadening the sensibilities and relieving pain, allowing otherwise distressing surgical procedures to be performed without discomfort to the patient.
On October 16, 1846, an American physician W.T.G. Morton, MD, achieved a groundbreaking milestone in medical history by successfully demonstrating ether anaesthesia on a patient during a surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Following this historic event, the practice of anaesthesia became firmly established, revolutionising the field of medicine and the day was later named and commemorated as the World Anaesthesia Day.
The subject of Anaesthesia has undergone a remarkable journey since Morton’s first demonstration. Today it stands as a major medical discipline practiced globally by skilled anaesthesiologists.
The field has continuously evolved adapting to advancements in medical science, technology, and patient care.
The role of anaesthesiologists extends beyond the operating room. They play a vital role in relieving pain not only for surgical patients but also for individuals with chronic pain conditions including those with cancer.
This year’s theme of the World Anaesthesia Day is “Anaesthesia and Cancer care” highlighting the anaesthesia professional’s crucial contribution in providing perioperative care, pain relief and palliative care for cancer patients.
Anaesthesiologists are the pioneers in the provision of intensive care for critically ill patients. They are also involved in emergency medical care and in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The role played by the anaesthetists worldwide during the Covid pandemic by providing intensive medical care including ventilatory support was well recognised.
Ensuring safe anaesthesia practices involve continuous education and training, innovation, and collaboration with the medical community. The World Anaesthesia Day becomes a platform for sharing knowledge, fostering dialogue, and addressing emerging issues in the field of anaesthesia.
The College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Sri Lanka plays a crucial role in advancing the standards of anaesthesia care and by promoting excellence in the field of anaesthesia practice in Sri Lanka. This Day is dedicated to anaesthetists in Sri Lanka and around the world for their immense efforts to provide the best perioperative care for patients, ensuring comfort, safety and successful medical procedures.
