JOHN ADRIANI M.D.

1907 - 1988

Dr. John Adriani was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on December 2, 1907, the first of nine children of couple each of whom had emigrated in their teens from Italy, His father emigrated as an orphan before he was 15, and some of Dr. Adriani’s thoughts about his parents are best expressed in his own words in 1969 when he was named National Italian-American of the Year by the Greater New Orleans Italian Cultural Society: “Both of my parents realized that world had something to offer them but it owed them and would give them nothing unless they, themselves, sought it out…. They were imbued with the philosophy that they had an obligation to contribute something to make the world better for posterity.” His tribute to his parents was more in the way he lived than in just the words he chose for the occasion.

After his early education in Bridgeport, Dr. Adriani earned both an A.B and M.D at Columbia University, in 1930 and 1934 respectively. Most members of this Association probably were not aware that his career started with a surgical internship at the French Hospital in New York (1934-1936) under Professor A.M. Wright of New York University. His Training continued in anesthesiology under E.A. Rovenstine at Bellevue Hospital in New York from 1936 to 1937, as a Fellow in Surgery (Anesthesia) at N.Y.U., 1937-1938, and a Fellow in Physiology under Homer W, Smith, 1938-1939. From 1939-1940 he was an Instructor, Department of Surgery (Anesthesia, Physiology, and Pharmacology-) at N.Y.U. At this time, he was, in his own words, “imported to New Orleans” to become Director of the Department of Anesthesiology at the, then, brand new Charity Hospital.

From 1941 on, he probably held more University appointments in a single city than almost any other member, of the medical profession. He was simultaneously and continually Clinical Professor of Surgery and Chairman of the Anesthesiology Society at Louisiana State University and Tulane University, Professor of Pharmacology at LSU, Professor and Head of the Department of General Anesthesia at Loyola School of Dentistry until the school closed in 1971 and succeeded by LSU School of Dentistry where his title was Clinical Professor of Oral Surgery (Anesthesiology), Professor of Anesthesiology at LSU from 1976 on where a separate department was created. Most of these positions he held as an active or emeritus member for the remainder of his career, and during most of his “retirement” he continued to write, edit, and advise in much of the same fashion he had during his more active career.

His publications numbered over 600 articles, at lest 13 books which he authored and over 30 which he edited, plus consulting editorial functions for such key works at USP, Dorland’s Medical Dictionary, New and Non-Official Drugs, and ether similarly major reference works. For 34 consecutive years he had scientific exhibits at the Annual meetings of the AMA, winning awards at many of these. The list of memberships in scientific societies and on committees of a wide variety of medical subjects were legion Within Charity Hospital his role and his presence were ubiquitous, and there was literally no committee in which he did not have a hand, and essentially no activity in the hospital of which he was not aware. In tribute and as a reminder, his portrait in one of only four hanging in the main public entrance to the hospital.

Some of the items which he selected as his most important contributions give further insight into his activities developed saddle block anesthesia; “Adriani circle filter” for Forregger apparatus; brachial plexus block by axillary route; a technique using glucose to spinal anesthesia; first to use or first in the South to use: electric stimulator to locate nerve for regional nerve block, central acting muscle relaxants for treatment of tetanus, anti-narcotic for overdosage of narcotic poisoning, gas chromatography for analytical techniques in anesthesiology, method for determining efficacy and potency of local anesthetics, succinyl choline as a muscle relaxant, modified anesthetic apparatus for pediatric anesthesia, and first to use a number of different anesthetic agents in the south. lie was a pioneer in the study of the physiologic problems associated with the use of carbon dioxide absorbers in anesthesia, the importance of cuffed tubes in control of silent regurgitation, and histological studies of long-lasting anesthetics on neural tissue.

At Charity Hospital he organized the Anesthesiology Residency Program and ran it for the remainder of his tenure as its director. He organized and directed the Blood Hank, the School for Operating Roam Technicians, the Department of Inhalation Therapy, the Recovery Room, and the Bone Hank. He was a staunch advocate of nurse anesthetists. The list of committees which he either organized, directed, or ran ‘from the wings” in order to keep the hospital in line with changing accreditation needs is a long one.

Significant recognition included Distinguished Service Awards from The American Society of Anesthesiologists, International Anesthesia Research Society, Gaston Labat Award from American Society of Regional Anesthesia, Academy of Anesthesiology, N.Y-U- College of Medicine, and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. He was the first American and the third world-wide to receive the Ralph a Waters Medal, sometimes referred to as the °Noble prize in Anesthesiology”.

He literally lived in the hospital in a room which was simultaneously office, library, and sleeping quarters, and he could be found three or elsewhere in the hospital at almost any time of day or night. Thus many who thought they knew him may be surprised to read some of the comments from Mrs. Adriani, pointing out a side of him not so well known to others. The ever prevent bow tie and the big shoes were obvious, Not so clear to other were his interests classical music, ballet, and symphony. She described his mornings at follows; “.sitting in his lounge chair, sipping tea and reading the newspaper, watching the birds feed and drink through the window at home, with binoculars and identifying them, he reads books on ornithology” He liked to cook, read cook books, and collect recipes. There were his gentle characteristics, Those who saw another side of him knew him as a fighter, particularly when drug issue were involved, whether it be the inappropriate use of drugs by a physician or the exploitation of a drug industry, and his reputation in this area probably prevented bin appointment to a major position in the Food and Drug Administration.

He died on June 14, 1988 following a brief illness. He survived by his wife. Irene, his son John, four for grandchildren, three brothers and four sisters plus an uncounted number of students of varying categories, all of whom will miss his advice and counsel. His role at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, in the local medical community, and in the wider world of anesthesiology is not likely to be duplicated soon again.

Isidore Cohn, Jr., M.D.