Magill forceps, designed by physician Sir Ivan Whiteside Magill in the 1920s, aid in modern anesthesia by inserting and removing tubes from the windpipe or esophagus. They are also used to remove small objects from the throat or mouth and come in various sizes for different patients. Magill developed these tools after seeing accidental battlefield deaths caused by anesthesia overdose during WWI. They have also been used to insert throat packs before oral surgery.
Designed by physician Sir Ivan Whiteside Magill in the 1920s, Magill forceps are one of several tools that aided in the development of modern anesthesia. The tool combines long forceps with an angled handle, which keeps the hand out of line of sight when a doctor inserts or removes tubes from the windpipe or esophagus. These forceps are also used to remove small objects from the throat or mouth.
Also known as Magill forceps, Magill forceps are available in several standard sizes. In addition to the 9.5 inch (24 cm) size used for adults, there is also a 7.5 inch (19 cm) size for use on children. An extra-small size of 6 inches (16 cm) is used for children. These various lengths allow clinicians to use the correct length of instrument depending on the size of the patient. Like many medical instruments that are inserted into the body to perform a task, Magill’s forceps are made of stainless steel, making them easy to clean and sterilize.
The history of these pliers dates back to the First World War. Born in 1888 in Ireland, Magill developed his approach to anesthesia after seeing accidental battlefield deaths caused by an anesthesia overdose. At that time, patients were anesthetized using a rag dipped in chloroform. The chances of overdose were great with this inaccurate administration.
Magill recognized the need to place equipment down patients’ throats so they could be continuously and safely anesthetized during surgery. On the way to achieving this, Magill developed many tools, including throat and nose tubes, Magill forceps for inserting and removing tubes, and a rudimentary breathing system that eventually evolved into modern anesthesia systems.
With their curved handle and ease of use, these forceps soon became useful for removing objects from the airways. They have been used in emergency rooms and intensive care centers to extract small toys or toy pieces ingested by children. The medical literature has recorded the use of a Magill forceps to retrieve something as small as a safety pin from a child’s upper esophagus.
Magill forceps have also been used to insert throat packs before oral surgery. Made of a porous, spongy material, throat packs are used to absorb blood and other fluids and keep them from entering the airways. An oral surgeon can use these forceps to guide a throat pack into place and, if needed, to help remove it.
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