Every PAINFUL Surgery Explained in 17 Minutes

Summary

This script delves into the harrowing medical procedures of the pre-anesthesia era, where patients underwent excruciating surgeries like lithotomy for kidney stones, cataract removal without any pain relief, and limb amputations with only leather straps to bite on. It also covers the grim realities of cesarean sections, hemorrhoidectomies, and trepanation, illustrating the stark contrast between past and modern medical practices.

Takeaways

• 🩺 In 17th century Europe, a traveling lithotomy performed painful bladder stone removals without anesthesia.
• 👀 Cataract surgery before anesthesia involved cutting into the lens with a sharp needle, causing extreme pain.
• 🩹 Amputation in the Napoleonic Wars was a brutal process, often done with a bone saw and hot iron to cauterize wounds.
• 🤰 Cesarean sections before anesthesia were life-threatening for mothers, who were conscious and in severe pain throughout.
• 🩲 Hemorrhoidectomy was a gruesome procedure, with surgeons cutting and suturing while patients were fully awake.
• 💀 Trepanation, or skull drilling, was performed in ancient civilizations to release 'bad spirits' causing headaches.
• 🧠 Lobotomy, a now-discredited psychiatric procedure, involved hammering picks through the eye sockets into the brain.
• 🏥 Mastectomy in the 1800s was a last resort for breast cancer, often resulting in severe pain and high mortality rates.
• 🦷 Dental extractions were done with crude tools, causing immense pain and potential damage to the jaw.
• 🔪 Tumor excision surgeries were performed by cutting and digging out cancerous masses while patients were conscious.

Q & A

What was the role of a traveling lithotomy in 17th century Europe?

A traveling lithotomy was a surgeon specializing in removing bladder stones, using instruments like a lithotomy knife and a thin rod, and was the only hope for those suffering from kidney stones in 17th century Europe.

How were bladder stones removed during a lithotomy procedure?

Bladder stones were removed by making an incision and using tongs and forceps to extract the stones through the narrow urethral tube, all without anesthesia, which was extremely painful for the patient.

What challenges did cataract surgery present before the advent of anesthesia?

Before anesthesia, cataract surgery involved using a sharp needle or knife to cut into the eye tissue, which caused intense pain and required the patient to be forcibly restrained to prevent movement.

How did the process of amputation during the Napoleonic Wars differ from modern times?

Amputation during the Napoleonic Wars was a brutal process that involved using a bone saw to cut through skin, muscle, and bone, often without any anesthesia, leading to extreme pain and high risk of infection or death.

What was the typical procedure for a cesarean section before anesthesia?

Before anesthesia, a cesarean section involved making a deep incision into the abdomen and uterus to extract the infant, with the woman being fully awake and in horrific pain, often leading to high maternal mortality rates.

How were hemorrhoids treated surgically before modern medicine?

Surgical treatment for hemorrhoids involved using a sharp blade to cut around the hemorrhoidal masses and then suturing the wounds closed, all while the patient was conscious and experiencing severe pain.

What was the purpose of trepanation in ancient civilizations?

Trepanation was performed to allow ghosts or supernatural powers to enter or exit the body, often to cure ailments like headaches and convulsions, by drilling or chipping away at the skull.

What was the procedure for a lobotomy and why was it considered inhumane?

A lobotomy involved severing connections in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, often using metal picks hammered through the eye sockets, causing immense pain and potentially turning the patient into a lifeless husk, which is considered inhumane due to the extreme pain and brain damage.

How did dental extractions differ in the 18th century compared to today?

In the 18th century, dental extractions were performed by barber-surgeons using crude tools like pliers and forceps, causing extreme pain and often leading to complications like fractured jaws and uncontrolled bleeding.

What was the surgical process for removing a tumor before the era of anesthesia?

Before anesthesia, removing a tumor involved making incisions around the tumor, digging around the mass to dislodge it, and using hot iron tools to cauterize the wound, all while the patient was fully conscious and feeling every slice.

How were fistula surgeries performed in the early 19th century?

Fistula surgeries in the early 19th century involved making incisions around the fistula path and peeling away the flesh in a spiral pattern to expose and remove the abnormal connection, causing extreme pain and often leading to dissociation from the agony.