Abstract
Objective
To present a concise history of tracheostomy and tracheal intubation for the approximately forty centuries from their earliest description around 2000 BC until the middle of the twentieth century, at which time a proliferation of advances marked the beginning of the modern era of anesthesiology.
Data sources
Review of the literature.
Conclusions
The colorful and checkered past of tracheostomy and tracheal intubation informs contemporary understanding of these procedures. Often, the decision whether to perform a life-saving tracheostomy or tracheal intubation has been as important as the technical ability to perform it. The dawn of modern airway management owes its existence to the historical development of increasingly effective airway devices and to regular contributions of research into the pathophysiology of the upper airway.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Shaw GB. The doctor's dilemma, act I. http://www.1stWorldLibrary.org
Colice GL (1994) Historical background. In: Tobin MJ (ed) Principles and practice of mechanical ventilation. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 1–37
Musso CG (2005) Imhotep: the dean among the ancient Egyptian physicians. An example of a complete physician. Humane Medicine Health Care 5:169
Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 128b. http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/t01/index.htm
Frost EA (1976) Tracing the tracheostomy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 85:618–624
The Bible, Psalm 104:29 3
The Bible, Genesis 2:7
The Bible, Kings II 4:34–35
Watkinson JJ, Gaz MN, Wilson JA (2000) Tracheostomy. In: Stell and Maran's head and neck surgery, 4th edn. Butterworth Heinemann, pp 153–168
Gillespie NA (1948) The history of endotracheal anaesthesia. In: Gillespie NA (ed) Endotracheal anaesthesia, 2nd edn. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, pp 67–84
Bradby M (1966) History of tracheotomy. Nursing Times 25:1548–1550
Eavey RD (1998) The history of tracheotomy. In: Myers EN, Johnson J, Murry T (eds) Tracheotomy: airway management, communication, and swallowing. Singular, San Diego, pp 1–8
Armstrong Davison MH (1965) The history of anaesthesia. In: Evans FT, Gray TC (eds) General anaesthesia, 2nd edn. Butterworths, London, pp 1–17
Lee JA, Atkinson RS (1973) A synopsis of anaesthesia, 7th edn. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 17–20
Mushin WW, Rendell-Baker L (1953) Thoracic anesthesia, past and present (reprinted by the Wood Library Museum, 1991). Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Ill., p 44
Rushman GB, Davies NJH, Atkinson RS (1996) Intubation of the trachea. In: Rushman GB, Davies NJH, Atkinson RS (eds) A short history of anaesthesia, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, pp 92–103
Sittig SE, Prignitz JE (2001) Tracheostomy: evolution of an airway. AARC Times, February, pp 48–51
Sykes WS (1982) Essay on the first hundred years of anesthesia. Ellis RH (ed). Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 92–113
Calverley RK (1984) Classical file. Surv Anesth pp 28–70
Thomas KB (1978) Sir Ivan Whiteside Magill: a review of his publications and other references of his life and work. Anaesthesia 33:628–634
Condon HA, Gilchrist E (1986) Stanley Rowbotham, twentieth century pioneer anaesthetist. Anaesthesia 41:46–52
Mörch ET (1990) History of mechanical ventilation. In: Kirby RR, Banner MJ, Downs JB (eds) Clinical applications of ventilatory support. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 1–61
Chinsky KD (2001) Critical interactions: man and machine. Chest 119:996–997
Sanders GB (1971) David and Goliath. Innominate Society, March. http://www.innominatesociety.com/Articles/David%20and%20Goliath.htm
Tobin MJ (1998) Mechanical ventilation: conventional modes and settings. In: Fishman AP (ed) Fishman's pulmonary diseases and disorders. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 2691–2692
Baker A (1971) Artificial respiration: the history of an idea. Med Hist 15:336–351
Gale JW, Waters RM (1932) Closed endotracheal anesthesia in thoracic surgery: preliminary report. Curr Res Anesth Analg 11:283
Gebauer PW (1939) A catheter for bronchospirometry. J Thorac Surg 8:674–684
Carlens E (1949) New flexible double-lumen catheter for bronchospirometry. J Thorac Surg 18:742–746
Robertshaw FL (1962) Low resistance double-lumen endotracheal tubes. Br J Anaesth 34:576–579
Bailey B (1996) Laryngoscopy and laryngoscopes. Who's first? The forefathers/four fathers of laryngology. Laryngoscope 106:939–943
Burkle CM, Zapeda FA, Bacon DR, Rose SH (2004) A historical perspective on use of the laryngoscope as a tool in anesthesiology. Anesthesiology 100:1003–1006
Grifith HR, Johnson GE (1942) The use of curare in general anesthesia. Anesthesiology 3:418
Ikeda S, Yanai N, Ishikawa S (1968) Flexible bronchofiberscope. Keio J Med 17:1–16
Shaw GB. The doctor's dilemma, act II. http://www.1stWorldLibrary.org
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Dr. David Zuck, MB, ChB, FRCA, DA, DHMSA, retired consultant anesthetist, past President of the British History of Anaesthesia Society, and an honorary member of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland; and Dr. Henry Hadad, Chief of Anesthesia at the English Hospital, Nazareth, Israel, for the invaluable information they provided to help us write this brief review. We also thank Camille Lloyd, PhD, and Liza Farrow-Gillespie for editorial assistance.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
There is no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Szmuk, P., Ezri, T., Evron, S. et al. A brief history of tracheostomy and tracheal intubation, from the Bronze Age to the Space Age. Intensive Care Med 34, 222–228 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-007-0931-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-007-0931-5