Medieval Surgery

• John Arderne: He was a battle surgeon. He developed painkillers and reduced the need to cauterise. He wrote books, promoted good bedside manners and had a Robin Hood payment method.
• There was a high risk of infection as the flesh would be fully sliced open and they had no PPE with many people gathered to watch.
• The surgical tools were low quality and unsterilised.
• The doctors/ surgeons were not specialised, just general doctors.
• alcohol was used as an anesthetic in surgery
• Operating room: dark, cold, crowded with rich people who had paid to watch
• There were 3 main causes of death in surgery: shock, infection and blood loss
• Surgery is a medical procedure to physically alter or repair a patient
• War lead to the most improvements in surgery because that is where Arderne developed a painkiller