Slovenian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SZAIM)

The first successful general (ether) anesthesia in Slovenia was performed by dr. Leopold Nathan as early as February 24, 1847, just four months after the first public presentation of general anesthesia in the world (October 16, 1846 – Dr. Morton in Boston).
In 1901, the surgeon prof. Edo Šlajmer performed the first subarachnoid anesthesia in Slovenia. Until World War II, patients were anesthetized by anesthesia technicians and / or surgical specialists who used ether, which was administered to the patient through an open anesthetic respiratory system (Schimmelbusch mask) and a semi-open anesthetic respiratory system (Ombredanne mask).
After the Second World War, the leading role in the introduction of advanced anesthesia in Slovenia was played by the surgeon, academician prof. Božidar Lavrič. In collaboration with British anesthesiologists (Dr. Patrick Shackleton and Dr. Russell Davies).
In April 1947, surgeon dr. Miro Košak performed the first endotracheal intubation, which is considered the beginning of modern anesthesiology in Slovenia, in the same year a 3-year specialization for anesthesiologists was legalized.
In 1949, the anesthesiology department of the Surgical Clinic in Ljubljana was established, headed by Cmdr. Drago Hočevar (a surgeon who devoted himself entirely to anesthesia) and is also called the father of Slovenian anesthesiology.
After 1950, many new methods were introduced into clinical practice by prof. Darinka Soban. At her initiative,  Secretariat of Health issued a decree that every hospital with an operative activity must also have an anesthesiologist.
On April 1, 1965, the REA center (Resuscitation Center), which had 10 beds for resuscitation, became an independent department, which was joined by the anesthesia service with the common name Anesthesia – resuscitation service, led by the head Stojan Jeretin, dr. med. The REA center of the Maribor hospital was the first independent department of surgical intensive care in Slovenia and the second in the former Yugoslavia, right after the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade and only 12 years after the establishment of the first surgical intensive care unit in Copenhagen (1953).
In 1970, a 4-year specialization in anesthesiology was introduced, in 1999 it became a 6-year specialization and was renamed the specialization in anesthesiology, resuscitation and perioperative intensive care. As early as 1984, all Slovenian hospitals had a specialist anesthesiologist. Within 1987, the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care was established within the Department of Surgery under the leadership of prof. Sobanove. The Department of Anesthesiology at the Medical Faculty in Ljubljana became independent in surgery in 1994 under the leadership of prof. Marija Pečan.
In 1970, a 4-year specialization in anesthesiology was introduced, in 1999 it became a 6-year specialization and was renamed the specialization in anesthesiology, resuscitation and perioperative intensive care. As early as 1984, all Slovenian hospitals had a specialist anesthesiologist. Within 1987, the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care was established within the Department of Surgery under the leadership of prof. Sobanove. The Department of Anesthesiology at the Medical Faculty in Ljubljana became independent in surgery in 1994 under the leadership of prof. Marija Pečan.
Slovenian anesthesiology received one of the greatest awards when the Clinical Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Surgery at the University Medical Center Ljubljana received the title of European Learning Center in 1996. Since 1997, the first part of the European exam in anesthesiology and intensive care has been held at the University Medical Center Ljubljana.