“New” techniques for tracheal intubation, 1929

Today we present the second in a series of vignettes, this one lasting little more than a minute, on the history of anesthesia, based on a video produced by Dr. Betty Bamforth, a Ralph Waters resident, and Dirk Wales, a filmmaker, on behalf of the Anesthesia History Association.

In this particular vignette, Arthur E. Guedel is the anesthesiologist. Many know of him today for his classification of the signs and symptoms associated with different levels of anesthesia. In the film, note that the laryngoscope he used was not battery powered. Universal precautions were not practiced as they are today. The endotracheal tubes were very floppy and made necessary the use of a stylet. The use of a cuff for the endotracheal tube, devised by Drs. Guedel and Waters, was novel. Finally, the universal size for connectors that we use today, e.g., connecting the endotracheal tube to the anesthesia circuit, had not yet been developed.

If video doesn’t work properly, try clicking here.