The foundation of the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists came to light in September 1955 after informal meetings had commenced in 1951 to explore the possibilities of a world body in anesthesia. The aim was and is: to make available the highest standards of anesthesia, pain treatment and resuscitation to all peoples of the world.

Appreciative that some of the founders were still around, able and willing, the WFSA Executive Committee (1998) agreed to commission this 50 years commemorative book to be published and presented to the national member societies on the occasion of the World Congress of Anesthesiologists 2004 in Paris, France, where the idea of the establishment of WFSA was germinated.