Karl Koller – the discoverer of the local anaestheticproperties of cocain, was born in Susice!
A short history of local anaesthetics
Authors:
Horáček Michal 1; Gimunová Olga 2; Gimunová Tereza 3; Vymazal Tomáš 1
Authors‘ workplace:
Klinika anesteziologie, resuscitace a intenzivní medicíny 2. lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovyve Fakultní nemocnici v Motole, Praha
1; Klinika anesteziologie, resuscitace a intenzivní medicíny Lékařské fakulty Masarykovy univerzityve Fakultní nemocnici Brno
2; Geografický ústav Přírodovědecké fakulty Masarykovy univerzity, Brno
3
Published in:
Anest. intenziv. Med., 25, 2014, č. 1, s. 68-71
Category:
History
Overview
A memorial plaque has been ceremonially set up on the native house of Doctor Karl Koller in Sušice in South-Western Bohemia on the 2nd of December 2012 to mark Dr Koller’s 155th birth anniversary on the 3rd of December 1857. After completing his studies, Dr Koller worked as an ophthalmologist in Vienna where he discovered the local anaesthetic action of cocaine. However, shortly afterwards he was forced to leave Vienna and settle in the USA to continue his career in ophthalmic medicine. Cocaine was applied not only topically but was also used in other techniques of regional anaesthesia. It is a toxic and addictive substance. Nowadays it has been replaced by safer and more efficient drugs.
Keywords:
cocaine – Karl Koller – local anaesthetics
Sources
1. Myer, L. Carl Koller: Mankind’s greatest benefactor? The story of local anesthesia. Journal of Dental Research, 1998, 77, 4, p. 535–538.
2. Lindqvist, K., Sundling, S. Xylocaine – a discovery – a drama – an industry. Astra: Södertälje, Švédsko 1993.
3. Albright, G. A. Cardiac arrest following regional anesthesia with etidocaine or bupivacaine. Anesthesiology, 1979, 51, 4, p. 285–287.
Labels
Anaesthesiology, Resuscitation and Inten Intensive Care MedicineArticle was published in
Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
2014 Issue 1
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