Annual Report for 1941 of the Section on Anesthesia

Pioneers of Laryngoscopy: Indirect, Direct and Video Laryngoscopy

“…The famous 'Magill forceps' were based on Rowbotham's 'rod', used to place an intratracheal catheter during insufflation anaesthesia. However, the question still remains as to why Rowbotham has not received the accolades awarded to Magill, when Magill adapted many of Rowbotham's ideas and observations (at least, in the opinion of one of the authors) 37 40,41 and intubation, but also designed a rigid bladed laryngoscope called the 'Lundy scope' which incorporated its own light source powered by a dry-cell battery 4 .…”

Mayo Clinic and the Origins of Blood Banking

“…3 Additionally, Lundy had described a technique of venous cutdown earlier that year. 4 Anesthesiologists were familiar with transfusing blood because blood transfusions were usually performed in the perioperative period; this was true for 680 of the 1021 transfusions that were performed in 1934, 3 377 of the 754 in 1935, 5 and 1398 of the 2058 in 1936. 6 Thus began the involvement of Lundy and the Section on Anesthesia of Mayo Clinic, which would lead to many advances in this field.…”

“…With the Section on Anesthesia responsible, "the number of transfusions increased considerably." 5 At that time, when a transfusion was required, professional and nonprofessional donors were brought on site, and blood was given directly to the patient. As the number of transfusions increased, a need arose for a way to store blood.…”

“…This practice also permits the keeping of blood from a universal donor on hand in anticipation of an emergency when immediate transfusion is essential. 5 In Lundy's words, "thus was established the first blood bank in North America, as far as I can find out. The Cook County Hospital in Chicago began such a service the next year, in 1936.…”

Complications of Intra-Osseous Therapy

“…(d) In the presence of extensive infection, with or without bacteriemia, the use of this route is not advisable except for the introduction of bacteriostatic drugs (sulfonamides, penicillin) .1 2 3 There has been wide application of this method and the reports thus far pabhlished have, on the whole, been favorable. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] The feeling may grow, however, that infusion by this method may be undertaken by any one, without previous training and in disregard of the points enumerated above. Lest this happen, attention is hereby drawn to certain serious complications which have resulted from trials at the performiaice of this technic.…”