Several times, the oral medication and therapy cannot cure a medical condition entirely and then it requires surgical care. Hospitals are equipped with several operating rooms to carry out these surgical procedures. These operating rooms are also known as Operation Theater.

Though the first thing that comes to mind when we hear the term ‘theater’ is mostly associated with a building that displays either real time or recorded film, play or stunt shows. The word theater comes from the Greek origin word ‘theatron’ which literally means ‘a place for viewing’. Then why is it associated with the sterile room, where no one but patient and medical staffs is allowed is called a theater?

It is a misnomer for the modern day operating room but is actually justified for the pioneer operating room, which was functional centuries ago. In the earlier times, the operating room had a sitting arrangement around the operating table. The medical student and interested people were allowed to be present and witness the procedure as it was carried out. This gallery resembled like the theater and the purpose being operation, gave rise to the term correctly as ‘Operation Theater.’

The purpose was to provide live, practical knowledge regarding surgery to the next generation of doctors and also to advertise the procedure in the newspaper and other keen participants. In fact, the number of people willing to witness (and also pay) this was so huge, that often operations had to postpone until a bigger theater is arranged.

Obviously, it did more harm than good. Unlike today’s operating procedures, the earlier rooms, equipment’s were not sterilized and also the doctors used to carry out these procedures one after the other without changing into a clean set of gloves, mask or gown. Due to exposure to germs, and infections, the number of death post-surgery were sky high.

Thankfully, with time, every negative aspect was addressed and improved. In current times as well, medical students attend several surgery procedures along with their senior doctors in the hospitals. However, that is purely for learning the purpose and they all maintain the same level of hygiene and sterility as the doctor and thus it no longer possess any threat to the health and recovery of the patient. Moreover, video recording of surgery has eliminated the singular need to be physically present in the operating rooms anymore.

Though having a surgical procedure in the aforementioned operation theater in the present era will be a nightmare for both the patient and the doctors, it must be remembered that medical science did not evolve into this current day scenario overnight. It took a lot of efforts from so many people over the ages and we are obliged to every single of them.