[The modified Kleinsasser tube: the ideal in difficult intubation].

The modified Kleinsasser tube is commonly used for laryngeal tumour diagnosis. The tube has a semilunar cross-section with a radius of 2.5 cm and a diameter of 3 cm. Its lower third contains a cold light lamp placed so that it cannot become covered by blood or tumour masses. After insertion of the endotracheal tube into the patient the Kleinsasser tube is placed at the entrance of the larynx. Operations are done through the inner lumen of the Kleinsasser tube. The Kleinsasser tube has proved a reliable instrument for insertion of endotracheal tubes in patients whose vocal cords could not be seen by ordinary laryngoscopy, e.g. patients with a short neck and unable to recline, with severe hypopharyngeal haemorrhage, with obstruction at the base of the tongue and partial occlusion of the laryngeal entrance by tumour. After introduction the vocal cords may be inspected in their entire length and under bright light the endotracheal tube may be brought safely through the Kleinsasser tube into endotracheal position using Magill forceps as an auxiliary instrument.