a medical instrument for facilitating endotracheal intubation in a patient , the instrument including a handle and an elongated obturator element extending therefrom , the obturator element for releasably retaining thereon a selected endotracheal tube for positioning within the patient , a mechanism being provided for selectively retaining and ejecting the endotracheal tube from the obturator element , the obturator element accommodating therethrough an endoscope to permit visualization at the end thereof to facilitate placement of the endotracheal tube , the apparatus also including structure for providing controlled suction at the end of the obturator element .