h4. Historical Perspectives During the 1970's and even later a shotgun approach to pre-anesthetic assessment was routine. Reasons for this attitude included the argument that broad based testing was good screening for patients who might not otherwise seek medical advice on a regular basis. Indeed, it was suggested that the information thus gained might well negate the need for an annual ...

h4. Introduction h4. Historical Development The complications associated with the administration of anesthetic agents were recognized almost immediately after the introduction of inhalation anesthesia in the mid 19th century. John Snow, the first recognized physician anesthesthetists in the Western World, and the author of what is probably the first major textbook on anesthesia, devoted one third of his text to the ...