Friedrich Trendelenburg performed the first endotracheal anaesthetic in 1869, followed by William Macewen’s orotracheal intubation in 1880. Franz Kuhn laid the foundations, and Ivan Magill refined the technique after the First World War. The laryngoscope, muscle relaxants, and cuffed tubes made intubation routine, transforming it into the cornerstone of modern anaesthesia.
Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is the cornerstone of modern airway management in anesthesia. It involves placing a flexible plastic tube into the trachea to secure the airway, permit positive pressure ventilation, protect against aspiration, and deliver inhaled anesthetics. For the anesthesia trainee, mastering ETI is not merely a technical skill—it is the first major step toward becoming a competent perioperative physician.