A low profile anaesthesiologists meet was organised on the World Anaesthesia Day here in Bangalore recently to commend the vast changes and progress in the field.

Around 350 plus members of the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologist, Bangalore chapter met for the first time in Bangalore. It was a platform for the Bangalore anaesthesiologists fraternity to meet and discuss developments in the field and spread awareness on the vital role of anaesthesia.

Dr. G Parameshwara, president, Indian Society of Anaesthesiologist, Bangalore chapter said that anaesthesia was no longer just about administering chloroform during a surgery. "In fact chloroform is no longer even used in general anaesthesia. It has long been replaced by drugs like isoflurane and sevoflurane which are inhalation agents," he said.

Anaesthesia is a field that is surrounded by myths and misconceptions. The one-day meet discussed these and various issues including the interesting history behind the field. "Our relationship is with a sleeping patient, who does not really want to know how he fell asleep during surgery and how is 'sleep state' was maintained for the period of the surgery. His main concern is that now is he awake and well," informed Dr. V Bhadrinaryan, secretary, Indian Society of Anaesthesiologist, Bangalore chapter.

According to the anaesthetists gathered, it was high time now to publicise the role of anaesthesia. Development in all major critical surgeries such as neuro surgeries, paediatric surgery, labour pain, open-heart surgery, plastic surgery or orthopaedic surgery and transplants have been possible because of the advancements in anaesthesia administration and monitoring.

Besides rendering the patient unconscious, it has also been responsible for pain relief, muscle relaxation, memory loss during the period of operation and post operation resuscitation. A balance needs to be maintained in the heart, liver, brain and kidney functions.

Currently anaesthesia is also responsible for monitoring the patient's ECG, BP, oxygenation of the blood, respiration and central venous pressure during an operation. Because of these functions anaesthesia has become the key success of any surgery.