[Joseph O'Dwyer--a pioneer in endotracheal intubation and pressure respiration]

The oro- and nasotracheal intubation has been developed into one of the most important techniques in anaesthesiology. Originally, intubations were carried out for overcoming acute diphteric airway obstruction in children. As late as the end of the 19 century, the only life saving chance was to perform tracheotomy. Although the technique for this operation at that time was well developed, it was very often impossible to save the life of those moribund patients. The famous American paediatrician Joseph O'Dwyer re-initiated the technique of intubation and his excellent results became great success and promoted world-wide use, although it was a well-known procedure at that time. His intubation method - also called the O'Dwyer-Method-was first published in the N. Y. Medical Journal as "Intubation of the Larynx" 100 years ago. Working together with the surgeon George Fell, O'Dwyer designed an apparatus, for artificial respiration. As Fell-O'Dwyer Apparatus it was widely used in cases of asphyxia, - even in those caused by overdosage of anaesthetics. Further developments of the apparatus permitted positive pressure ventilation and the combination with a funnel for narcotics increased the repertory of anaesthesiological possibilities.