Before independence of India, Berry White Medical (B. W. M) School was the feeder of health care of the state of Assam, India, then. The Assam Medical College was started on 03rd November, 1947, on the very base of B. W. M. School in Dibrugarh, Assam, at the bank of mighty Brahmaputra River. Later on, the medical college was shifted to the present site only after acquiring the 56 Military Command Base Hospital.
The term “Anaesthesia” was coined only in 1847 after WTG Morton successfully demonstrated production of unconsciousness for surgery in 1846.
Royal College of England recognized Anaesthesiology in 1935 only by granting Diploma in Anaesthesiology (DA) and as a specialized separate speciality by granting FFARCS, England, (now FRCA) only in 1953. University of Bombay was the pioneer to start the Diploma in Anaesthesiolgy inIndia in 1948-49. Patna University took the lead to start the MS (now MD) in Anaesthesiology in 1955-56.
In the early fifties, only a few qualified Anaesthetists were serving the country mostly in medical college in important cities only, and there were none in the state of Assam. Anaesthesia was used to be administered by the Surgeon themselves and by some unqualified persons under the guidance and responsibility of the Surgeons concerned. However, no advanced or complicated surgery was undertaken then. Dr. B. Dasgupta used to administer anaesthesia in the B. W. M. School, and Assam Medical College utilized his services for anesthesia in the early stage.
Although medical graduates were reluctant to join the branch during the earlier days, Dr. Hemanta Kr. Dutta was the first to join as an Anaesthetist in Assam Medical College in 1953, and later on trained in Anaesthesia in Calcutta Medical College in 1953 and attained in DA at Bombay University in 1955. He was soon joined by Dr. S. N. Sarma as an Anaesthestist in Assam Medical College in 1953.
The first Boyle Apparatus was purchased and installed for use in Assam Medical College 1953. In 1956, Dr. L. Bora joined as an Anaesthetist in Assam Medical College. Since then, they were managing anaesthesia service including emergency care in the hospital. Dr. H. K. Dutta took lectures on anaesthesia to 4th year undergraduate students for the first time in Assam Medical College. In 1958, Dr. H. K. Dutta was first appointed as Assistant Professor of Anaesthesiology in Assam Medical College. Then, Dr. B. K. Sarma also joined as Anaesthetist in Assam Medical College. Dr. H. K. Dutta further went for obtaining FFARCS (England) in 1961 on government scholarship.
The Department of Anaesthesiology was created by the office order No. 61/7357-58, dated 23rd May, 1961, in Assam Medical College during the tenure of Dr. S. N. Sarma, the then Pricipal of Assam Medical College. Dr. H. K. Dutta was asked to lead the department as a Head of the Department. Three technical attendants, namely, Dal Bahadur, GolokSarma and Jainal Hussein, were appointed under the new department. Soon after that, Dr. L. Bora left for U.K for higher studies and Dr. B. K. Sarma was transferred to Gauhati Medical College.
Next few years, constant efforts were made to attract the young doctors to join the branch, train them and send them for higher studies outside the state. During this period, various eminent personalities, namely, Dr. S. C. Khataniar, Dr. B. K. Sarma, Dr. S. C. Barua, Dr. S. Dasgupta and Dr. R. M. A. M. Bora obtained the degree in Anaesthesiology. In 1963, Dr. H. K. Dutta was promoted as Professor and led the department as the Head.
In 1969, DA Course in Anaesthesiology was started for the first time in Assam Medical College and first batch passed the DA in 1970. Simultaneously, IMC inspection was held, and DA course in Assam Medical College was recognized and also granted permission to start MD course in Anaesthesiology in Assam Medical College. Soon after, Dr. A. C. Barua joined as Assistant Professor in Department of Anaesthesiolgy and started the MD course in 1970. The first batch of MD Anaesthesiology passed in 1975 under IMC inspection. In the mean while Dr. S. Dasgupta (son of Dr. B. Dasgupta) and Dr. R. M. A. M. Bora joined the department. Since then, the department had been DA and MD degree to a number of students till date who has been serving across the globe.
[Reproduced from “Development of Anaesthesia at Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh (1947 – 1985)” by Dr. H. K. Dutta, MBBS, DA, FFARCS (England), published in the Souvenir of XIII Annual Conference, Assam State Branch, Indian Society of Anaesthetists cum Silver Jubilee of Department of Anaesthesiology, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh.
Anaesthesiology encompasses anaesthesia care, intensive care of critical patients, emergency medicine and pain medicine.The Department is also giving immense service in the critically ill patient. The foundation stone of the Intensive Care Unit was first laid down in the year 2005 by Dr. T. R. Borborah, the then Principal cum Chief Superintendent and Dr. P. P. Dey, Professor and Head, Department of Anaesthesiolgy.Subsequently, the ICU has been upgraded and at present, the Central ICU has a capacity of 26 beds which is well equipped with modern mechanical ventilators and other equipements.The department is also running a Pain Clinic which is a specialised centre that helps in the management of chronic pain and in improving the quality of life of the patients.
