A cricothyrotomy is a medical procedure in which an opening is created through the cricothyroid membrane to establish a patent airway during emergency airway management. It is primarily performed as the last step in airway management algorithms when an airway cannot be established by other means such as nasal or oral tracheal intubation, in situations often called cannot-intubate-cannot-ventilate or cannot-intubate-cannot-oxygenate, commonly seen as a result of airway obstruction, angioedema, trauma, burns or abnormal anatomy.
Facts
FAQs
Why is a cricothyrotomy chosen over a tracheostomy in an emergency?
It needs less surgical expertise, equipment and time than a tracheostomy.
In an emergency a cricothyrotomy is favored over a tracheostomy because it requires less surgical expertise, equipment and time. It is the preferred way to place an emergency surgical airway in adolescents and adults when intubation through the mouth or nose has been unsuccessful. Clinical references describe it as rarely needed because airway management has advanced, but emergency and critical care providers must be prepared to perform it when necessary. Some sources spell the procedure cricothyroidotomy.
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
Cricothyrotomy (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricothyrotomy, lead sectionQuote, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricothyrotomy, lead section
A cricothyrotomy (also called cricothyroidotomy or laryngotomy) is a medical procedure where an opening is created through the cricothyroid membrane to establish a patent airway during emergency airway management.
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