Understanding Anesthesiology - The Global Regional Anesthesia ...

Needle cricothyrotomy
A needle cricothyrotomy is an emergency procedure where an airway is achieved percutaneously
through the cricothryoid membrane. A cricothryotomy kit should be on every difficult
airway cart.
A cricothyrotomy is usually performed as a last-ditch emergency measure after failed attempts
at conventional intubation. It is a temporary, stop-gap measure. A formal tracheostomy
will usually be required as soon as is feasible.
Studies of anesthetic morbidity and mortality related to the airway underscore the importance
of not hesitating to perform a cricothyrotomy when other measures have failed and
oxygenation of the patient is not being maintained.
Related Glossary Terms
Cricoid cartilage, Difficult airway, Hypoxemia, Intubation, Subglottis
Index
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Chapter 1 - Airway Management