A historical perspective on use of the laryngoscope as a tool in anesthesiology.

EACH year, one of the first skills anesthesia residents must master is direct visualization of the vocal cords to safely and successfully intubate the trachea of surgical patients. Debates have raged in teaching centers about the superiority of one laryngoscope over another or the merits of a straight versus a curved blade. However, this yearly debate is a phenomenon of the twentieth century, as anesthesiologists sought better tools to facilitate patient care. Physician interest in visualizing the vocal cords can be traced to at least the mid-1700s. However, controversy remains as to who deserves historical credit for the development of the laryngoscope. An appreciation of the contributions of several innovative scientists involved with the development of the laryngoscope over more than 250 yr may be of greater importance. Although the laryngoscope was initially a tool developed solely for the otolaryngologist, advances in anesthesia during the early 20th century made the addition of the laryngoscope and development of the skills to use it successfully essential to the anesthesiologist. The introduction of the laryngoscope into the practice of clinical anesthesia is best described by considering these advances in the “surgeon” and “anesthesiologist” periods.