[Treatment of acute and chronic laryngeal and tracheal stenoses in the 19th and beginning of the 20th century by tracheotomy, coniotomy, intubation and dilatation. Pictures from the history of otorhinolaryngology illustrated by instruments from the collection of the Ingolstadt Medical History Museum].

Abstract

Although tracheotomy had been described in the Middle Ages and especially in the 17th century in writings (Fabricius d'Aquapendente 1620) and illustrations (Scultetus 1645), there was hardly any possibility of actually performing this operation as a life-saving intervention until the middle of the 19th century. It was only after suitable cannulae had been introduced by Trousseau in 1851 (double cannula with removeable insert) that tracheotomy became a routine procedure, and it was immediately carried out in a great many cases of diphtheria, croup, typhus, and lues, which often caused critical dispnea. Within the following 25 years, all technical modifications of cannulae were devised that are in use up to this day: the flap valve for the artificial larynx (1861), inflatable cuff (1871), and extra long flexible cannula. Beginning in 1885, O'Dwyer's method of intubation became established as an alternative to tracheotomy. Both procedures, like the underlying disease itself, frequently resulted in a permanent stenosis of the larynx or the trachea rendering decannulation impossible. Since about 1870 the treatment of these stenoses, primarily by bougienage, became an important issue in laryngology, which had just been established as a discipline in its own right. The history of this evolution and the therapeutic approaches by Schrötter in Vienna and Thost in Hamburg are described in detail, including their specially devised equipment. Apart from that, other medical aspects of historical interest around the turn of the century are mentioned, such as artificial nutrition by subcutaneous injections and tracheotomy in horses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: H Feldmann
• Journal: Laryngo- rhino- otologie (Laryngorhinootologie) Vol. 74 Issue 4 Pg. 216-22 (Apr 1995) ISSN: 0935-8943 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Die Behandlung akuter und chronischer Larynx- und Trachealstenosen im 19. und Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts durch Tracheotomie, Koniotomie, Intubation und Dilatation. Bilder aus der Geschichte der Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, dargestellt an Instrumenten aus der Sammlung im Deutschen Medizinhistorischen in Ingolstadt.
• PMID: 7772218 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Historical Article, Journal Article)

Topics

• Germany
• History, 19th Century
• History, 20th Century
• Humans
• Intubation, Intratracheal (history, instrumentation)
• Laryngostenosis (history, therapy)
• Medical Illustration (history)
• Surgical Instruments (history)
• Tracheal Stenosis (history, therapy)