A pharyngeal pack fixed on to the tracheal tube

In 205 patients undergoing surgery of the nose, throat of dental surgery, a gauze pack was used fixed into the tracheal tube, remaining during surgery above the vocal cords. Advantages in adults as well as children are discussed: laryngoscopy has to be performed only once, a free operating field is secured for the surgeon in that throat, the tube cannot be inserted too far into the trachea and the pack cannot be forgotten in the pharynx. The only disadvantage noticed so far was that in about 10% of the patients intubation was somewhat more difficult for the less experience anaesthetist.