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• The Department of Anaesthesia started functioning as a separate unit in the year 1927, and Dr. Francis DARCS was the first Professor of the Department of Anaesthesiology. He held the chair for 12 years from 1927 to 1939.
• It was during the tenure of Prof. V. Rajagopalan, FFARCS (1953–1974), that the Department of Anaesthesia developed academically with the starting of the Diploma in Anaesthesiology in the year 1959 and the Master's Degree in Anaesthesiology in the year 1966.
• Earlier there was only one surgical block in the old building with general surgical theatres. As surgical specialities and techniques developed, so did anaesthesia. In the old building, there were 6 operation theatres—2 theatres per floor. Each theatre had around 4 operating tables. Altogether, there were around 24–26 operating tables in the old block. OT1 was an emergency theatre, OT2 – orthopaedic theatre, OT3 – general surgery, OT4 – surgical gastroenterology, OT5 – plastic surgery, surgical endocrinology, and general surgery, and OT6 – ENT.
Currently The Department efficiently manages 15 operation theatres catering to
Milestones and Evolution of Theatre Complexes
Cardiothoracic: Started in 1954-55. First successful open-heart surgery in 1974 under Dr. A. Venkatasamy. Invasive monitoring introduced during Dr. R. Rajendran’s tenure with help from Dr. Vijayashankaran.
Neurosurgery: Began in 1950. Dedicated block in 1969. Evolved under Dr. Appasamy and Dr. Chandrasekaran with multipara monitors.
OT12: Started in 1983. First renal transplant in 1987. Became a centre for transplant and vascular excellence under Dr. Balakrishnan and Dr. Ganapathy Asokan.
The emergency theatre handled multidisciplinary emergencies. New complexes launched in 2005 during Dr. G. Sivarajan’s leadership. Became an institute in 2010 under Dr. C.R. Kanyakumari.
Tower II now houses 35 out of 62 operation tables. Specialties include General, Ortho, Neuro, ENT, Plastic, and Trauma with advanced infrastructure.
The Central Assessment Room was established by Dr. Santhanalakshmi and Dr. Thiruchelvan. Chief Anaesthetist’s room formalized during Dr. V. Kanagaraj’s tenure.
OT12 pioneered a better anaesthesia charting system, later adopted across theatres for clarity and safety.
Transplants: Cadaver renal transplants started in 1996 under Dr. K. Balakrishnan. Organ retrieval program active since 2009, initiated by Dr. Venkatachalam.
Pain Clinic: Launched in 2013. Daily interventional services supported by ultrasound and expert faculty including Dr. G.K. Kumar and Dr. B. Kala.
Our postgraduate classroom has journeyed from the ground floor beside OT1, to the sixth floor opposite OT12, and finally settled in Tower II in 2005. A smart board was added in 2014, transforming the space into a state-of-the-art teaching hub.
In the early days, classes were spontaneous and closely followed the oral tradition. Dr. Narayanasamy laid the foundation with structured sessions on anaesthetic equipment and techniques. Dr. Janakiraman continued the legacy, fostering curiosity and discipline.
The turning point came in 2001 when MACME (Madras Anaesthesia Continuing Medical Education) was initiated by Dr. R. Chandrasekar under the guidance of Dr. Balamani Mukilan. This marked the beginning of regular CMEs, symposiums, journal clubs, and structured postgraduate teaching.
What began with 6 MD and 10 DA students has now grown to 37 MD seats annually and 111 total postgraduates. They're supported by a team of 49 educators and 7 Senior Residents. Anaesthesia technician training is also a part of our comprehensive academic ecosystem.
Over the decades, we have grown beyond the OT walls into a full-fledged Institute of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care. This transformation is a tribute to the dedication and vision of our mentors and leaders who nurtured a culture of excellence.
