Microbiology Poster

Ecraseur

By: Warren

The History of an Ecraseur

Much like the French word "to crush," Ecraseurs were invented in the 1800s by French physician Dr. Chassaignac. It was a tool with a wire/chain loop at the end of the handle used to encirle body masses within surgery.

Ecraseurs were used in the surgery room mainly for patients with tumors, hemerrhoids, and other masses that are in need of amputation and removal. They were occasionally used in the removal of tongues and fingers too.

Mortality rates were 8%!

Very painful/prone to infections!

How?

Surgeons attached the wire/chain loop around the clumps of skins on patients and fastened the ecraseur. This would cut off blood flow to masses of skin, causing it to fall off of the pateint's bodies and therefore "curing" them of their disease.

Conclusion

Its Purpose!

Though ecraseurs are no longer used in modern practices of medicine, historians would argue that it was an effective tool invented within the 18th century. This is because though the process was very painful for the patient, it was still less painful and dangerous then surgical cutting. This meant that not only was it a safer alternative, but a less painful one too!

This was relatively quite low compared to other forms of treatments like blood letting.

Surgeons within the 18th century also were not very skilled, which resulted in human error that could cut off larger portions of skins than intended.