High frequency ventilation in laser surgery of the larynx.

Abstract

For endolaryngeal laser surgery an anaesthetic technique is required which provides the surgeon good access to the larynx. High frequency ventilation of the lungs using a FG 14 insufflation catheter covered by aluminium foil has proved to give a nearly optimal condition for the surgeon, while the fully paralyzed patient is very well ventilated. This has been used in more than 1000 patients, 200 of them have been treated by the laser beam in the airway. A method of total intravenous anaesthesia is described using short acting drugs. This way early awakening after surgery in the airways prevents aspiration of blood or debris into the lungs.