Whether it’s saving lives from infectious diseases or allowing us to live longer and better, medical breakthroughs change our world. But what milestones top our list of the greatest medical achievements of all time? We asked readers, and compiled their top choices.
The invention of anesthetics, which allow doctors to perform delicate and risky procedures without suffering from the excruciating pain patients used to experience, was voted the best medical breakthrough. Before anesthesia was developed, surgery was limited by the fact that post-surgery infections were common and deadly. This changed in 1846 when William TG Morton introduced ether to anesthesia, allowing surgeons to perform complex operations.
Another milestone was the development of vaccines, which prevent or reduce many dangerous illnesses. Vaccines have saved countless lives from illnesses such as tetanus, diphtheria, tuberculosis and the chicken pox. And they can help people avoid serious complications like pneumonia and the flu.
Other significant medical breakthroughs include a new treatment for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) developed by Dana-Farber researchers. The medicine, called Radicava, works by inhibiting the oxidative stress that encourages the disease’s progression.
Other noteworthy discoveries made this year include a robot-assisted surgical system that’s more cost-effective than other systems and a virtual reality tool that allows healthcare professionals to hone their skills before performing real-life surgeries. And researchers at BWH and MIT develop a way to make prosthetic legs move using just the user’s brain. This could enable amputees to navigate bumpy terrain and climb stairs, as well as walk with a natural gait.