title: Anaesthesia in institutional practice in Singapore.
abstract: Documentation of the early development of anaesthesia in Singapore is scanty. Before World War II the anaesthetic agents used were mainly chloroform, ether and ethyl-chloride. They were usually administered by the surgeons themselves or by apothecaries under the supervision of the operating surgeon. After World War II, anaesthetists were sent from the United Kingdom to be in charge of all anaesthetics administered in Singapore. From 1956 to 1971, local doctors were sent to the United Kingdom for training and to obtain the specialist degree FFARCS. From 1968 onwards, the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons held examinations in Singapore for candidates appearing for FFARACS. This continued until our M Med Anaesthesia examinations, which began in 1974, were well established. The number of specialists has increased over the years. With the decentralisation of the anaesthetic departments in the various hospitals in 1975, and the recent restructuring of Government hospitals, many changes have taken place in the anaesthetic scene. The long-awaited University Department of Anaesthesia was eventually established in 1985. Keeping pace with progress made in the various surgical disciplines, and in other fields of medicine, the duties of anaesthetists in institutional practice have increased enormously. They have extended beyond the operating theatre.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Changi Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sivagnanaratnam
mesh_terms: D000761:Anesthesia Department, Hospital / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000266:history; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000266:history; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006754:Hospital Restructuring; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007325:Institutional Practice / Q000266:history*; D012846:Singapore; D013044:Specialty Boards / Q000266:history