The tracheotomy of Kaiser Friedrich III in the Year of the Three Kaisers, 1888 : Presentation of the original historical image to the DGHNO-KHC

The current article describes an image depicting an otorhinolaryngologic surgical intervention being performed on Kaiser Friedrich III. The image was captured by the lithography of an unknown artist and originates from a Cologne printing press. Kaiser Friedrich III was the penultimate German Kaiser and died June 15, 1888, in Potsdam, after ruling for only 99 days (the Year of the Three Kaisers). Toward the end of his period as Prince Regent and during his time on the throne, Kaiser Friedrich III was tracheostomized and wore a silver cannula. This publication on the Kaiser's disease and the background of the lithography marks the occasion of presentation of this historic image to the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery by the author.