title: The Historical Development of Obstetric Anesthesia and Its Contributions to Perinatology.
abstract: Scottish obstetrician James Young Simpson first introduced the use of ether and chloroform anesthesia for labor in 1847, just 1 year after William Morton's first successful public demonstration of ether anesthesia at the Massachusetts General Hospital. The contemporaneous development of surgical anesthesia and obstetrics enabled obstetric anesthesia to address the pain of childbirth. Shortly after its introduction, obstetricians raised concerns regarding placental transport, or the idea that drugs not only crossed the placenta, but exerted detrimental effects on the neonate. The development of regional anesthesia and clinical work in obstetric anesthesia and perinatology addressed issues of the safety of the neonate, enabling obstetric anesthesia to safely and dramatically reduce the pain of childbirth.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan.
authors.forename: Anwar D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000266:history*; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000266:history*; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000266:history*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000009:adverse effects; D001034:Apgar Score; D002725:Chloroform / Q000009:adverse effects; D004986:Ether / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009321:Natural Childbirth / Q000266:history; D010500:Perinatology / Q000266:history*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D004986:Ether; D002725:Chloroform