[A short history of the Swiss Society of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation (SSAR)]. / Kurze Geschichte der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Anästhesiologie und Reanimation (SGAR).

In common with most continental countries, anaesthesia in post-World War II Switzerland was clearly in arrears in comparison to the Anglo-American and Scandinavian countries. As early as in 1947, however, motivated young physicians left Switzerland for England, Scandinavia and the USA to familiarise themselves with the advances made in modern anaesthesia. In March, 1951, three of these pioneers, Ch. Bovay (Lausanne), W. Hügin (Basel), and K. Zeller (Winterthur), founded the Professional Association of Swiss Anaesthesiologists, thus preparing the ground for the Swiss Society of Anaesthesiology which was founded on July 5 th, 1952, on the occasion of the annual meeting of the Swiss Society of Surgery held in Zurich. Members of the first Executive Committee were Ch. Bovay, K. Zimmermann (Zurich), and W. Hügin. In 1963, the latter was appointed first Professor of Anaesthesiology in Switzerland by the University of Basel. Looking back, the 18 physicians involved in the foundation of the Society were indeed most courageous. This step towards independence is all the more admirable since the Swiss Society of Surgery, by founding a Section of Anaesthesiology, attempted to retain sovereignty over this small and new group of specialists. Only in 1954 anaesthesiology was recognised by the Swiss Medical Association as a medical specialty in its own right. In 1967 the name was changed to Swiss Society of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation (SSAR). Since coming into existence, the Society has grown more than 40-fold, with a total membership approaching 800 by 2002 end. In recent years, the SSAR took a particular interest in promoting both the training and CME of anaesthesiologists, in supporting research by its young members and in improving the quality and safety of anaesthesia.

Double-blind study of the reversal of midazolam-supplemented general anaesthesia with Ro 15-1788.

The actions and side effects of the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788 were evaluated in a randomized double-blind clinical study in which midazolam was used as an anaesthetic agent. Sixty women who underwent laparoscopy were treated with Ro 15-1788 or with placebo after the surgical procedure. Ro 15-1788 reversed the hypnotic effect of midazolam within a few minutes. The patients were alert, co-operative, oriented and had good recall of events after awakening. The effects were statistically better than placebo for up to 30 min after administration. Arterial pressure and heart rate remained stable and there were no significant side effects. The availability of Ro 15-1788 allows effective reversal of midazolam when this is used during general anaesthesia.

[Analgesia and adverse effects of nalbuphine (Nubain) in comparison with morphine following hysterectomy]. / Analgesie und Nebenwirkungen von Nalbuphin (Nubain) im Vergleich zu Morphin nach Hysterektomie.

In a randomized double-blind-study nalbuphine 20 mg i.m. was compared with morphine 10 mg i.m. in 49 patients over the first 48 postoperative hours after hysterectomy. Nalbuphine proved to be a good analgetic, not statistically different from morphine but having statistically significantly fewer side effects.

[Domperidone after ether anaesthesia. Prevention of postoperative hyperemesis (author's transl)]. / Domperidon nach Aethernarkose. Eine Prophylaxe der postoperativen Hyperemesis.

In catastrophe situations ether is an important alternative to the usual anaesthetics being easy to manage and economical. We wanted to study the effects of the new antiemetic Domperidone on vomiting after either anesthesia. Two groups of patients were anaesthetized for general surgical procedures by means of the EMO (Epstein-Macintosh-Oxford) Vaporizer. Half an hour before the end of the operation one group received 0.2 mg/kg domperidone while the randomized control group received no prophylactic antiemetic medication. The domperidone group showed better, statistically significant, results (p less than 0.05). Domperidone proved to have a good prophylactic antiemetic effect which does not cause side effects or circulatory alterations. In preparation for catastrophe situations ether anesthesia under improved conditions was again included in the regular training programme.

[A doubleblind comparison of tramadol and buprenorphine in the control of postoperative pain (author's transl)]. / Doppelblindvergleichsstudie über die Wirkung von Tramadol und Buprenorphine auf die postoperativen Schmerzen.

Analgesic effects as well as side effects, circulatory and respiratory parameters of 50 mg tramadol (Tramal) were compared with 0.3 mg buprenorphine (Temgesic) in a doubleblind, randomized study for the relief of postoperative pain. Buprenorphine produced a more potent and longer acting analgesic effect compared to tramadol, although slightly delayed. There were only few and slight side effects and no influence on the circulation and respiration. In the search for a new long-acting and strong analgesic Tramadol proved to be unable to replace buprenorphine in the control of postoperative pain.

[Buprenorphine and nicomorphine in a double-blind trial for the control of postoperative pain (author's transl)]. / Buprenorphin und nicomorphin im klinischen Doppelblindversuch zur postoperativen Schmerzbekämpfung.

Analgesic effects as well as side effects, circulatory and respiratory parameters of 0.3 mg Buprenorphine (Temgesic) were compared to 10 mg Nicomorphine (Vilan) intramuscularly injected in a double-blind, randomized study for the relief of postoperative pain. Buprenorphine produced an equally potent but longer acting analgesic effect compared to Nicomorphine, although slight delayed. There were only few and slight side effects and no influence on the circulation and the respiration. In the search for a new long-acting and strong analgesic Buprenorphine proved to be superior to Nicomorphine in the control of postoperative pain.

[A system for "intermitten mandatory ventilation" (IMV) using the engström respspirators ER 200/300 (author's transl)]. / Ein System für "Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation" (IMV) mit dem Engström-Respiratoren ER 200/300.

At low financial and material costs conventional Engström-respirators (Types ER 200, 300) can be converted to make Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (IMV) possible. These so converted respirators were examined when a group of patients in a surgical intensive care unit who had undergone mechanical ventilation for a longer period of time was weaned from the respirator. It could be shown that during the step-by-step weaning of these patients no significant changes appeared in the results of the blood gas analyses, which means that the patients' pulmonary function took over again gradually. Doubtlessly, the convertability of the Engström-respirator for IMV will help promote the weaning of patients with respiratory complications by this method.

[Hematological studies on changes caused by warming of the blood with microwaves]. / Hämatologische Untersuchungen über Veränderungen durch Bluterwärmung mit Mikrowellen.

Our examinations have shown, that through warming of blood with the micro-wave device "Haemotherm" there were no serious haematological alterations to be proved. The "Haemotherm" device can therefore be recommended as a useful and riskless equipment for warming blood in the usually used plastic covers during massive transfusions.