Adult subglottiscope for laser surgery.

A subglottiscope for use in adult men and women has been developed for microlaryngeal laser operations in the subglottic region of the larynx. The tip has been designed to facilitate exposure of the subglottis and upper trachea in both short-necked and long-necked individuals. A smoke evacuation channel has been included, as has a nonreflective finish. Finally, a port for jet ventilation has been added to facilitate use of this anesthetic technique when indicated. The authors have used the prototypes of these subglottiscopes on six patients, four women and two men, and have found the exposure of subglottic and upper tracheal lesions to be improved over that obtained with existing microlaryngoscopes.