(1) On the occasion of a personal case of perforation of the cervical oesophagus by laborious tracheal intubation which had necessitated the use of a rigid stilet, we found seven similar cases in the literature since 1971 which can be added to the 16 collected by DUBOST in 1971.
(2) A stiletted needle is recommended for all such procedures.
(3) When an 18-gauge needle without a stilette had been used, discitis was diagnosed in 2.7% of 222 patients but stiletted needles and a two-needle technique at each level reduced the incidence to 0.7%.