Anesthesia for laryngoscopy.

The requirements of anesthesia for laryngoscopy and microlaryngeal surgery must be compatible with maximum safety and minimum patient discomfort. Some techniques require the use of an endotracheal tube while some do not. Others use a modified tube or a jetting system. In general, for pediatric endoscopy we prefer spontaneous respiration with inhalational anesthesia supplemented by topical lignocaine (lidocaine), and in adults, a relaxant technique with controlled jet ventilation supplemented by topical lignocaine. A new pediatric microlaryngoscope and a new tube for jet ventilation in older children and adults are described.