Magill forceps
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| Magill forceps | |
|---|---|
 Magill forceps showing the characteristic angled design | |
| Synonyms | Intubation forceps |
| Specialty | Anaesthesiology |
| Intervention | Intubation |
| Inventor(s) | Ivan Magill |
| Related items | Laryngoscope |
Magill forceps are angled surgical tongs used to guide breathing tubes into the windpipe or retrieve obstructions from the throat without blocking the view of the larynx.[1] Their right-angle bend keeps the handles outside the mouth while serrated openings at the tips grip tubes or debris securely. The stainless-steel instrument comes in infant, child and adult lengths and has altered little since Sir Ivan Magill introduced it in the early 1920s. It remains standard equipment in operating theatres, emergency departments and ambulance airway kits around the world. While highly effective, the instrument requires careful technique to avoid complications such as dental trauma or soft tissue injury during use.
Magill forceps are angled ring-handled forceps devised in the early 1920s by the Irish anaesthetist Sir Ivan W. Magill to permit manipulation of airway devices without obstructing the laryngoscopist's line of sight.[2][3] The instrument's 90-degree mid-shaft bend and serrated, fenestrated tips enable the operator to grasp objects deep in the oropharynx while the handles remain outside the mouth, reducing the risk of dental trauma and preserving vision of the glottis.[2] Standard patterns are manufactured in stainless steel and supplied in lengths of roughly 16 cm for neonates, 20 cm for paediatric use and 24 cm for adults, allowing a size to be matched to the patient's anatomical dimensions.[2]