Cricoid pressure and laryngeal visualisation

Cricoid pressure prevents placement of the laryngeal tube and laryngeal tube-suction II.

BACKGROUND The laryngeal tube has a potential role in patients with a difficult airway, but cricoid pressure is required if the patient is at risk of aspiration. The effect of cricoid pressure on insertion of these devices is unknown. METHODS In a randomized cross-over study, the laryngeal tube (25 patients) or the laryngeal tube-suction II (15 patients) was inserted with cricoid pressure app...

Cricoid pressure.

PURPOSE Although cricoid pressure (CP) is a superficially simple and appropriate mechanical method to protect the patient from regurgitation and gastric insufflation, in practice it is a complex manoeuvre which is difficult to perform optimally. The purpose of this review is to examine and evaluate studies on the application of (CP). It deals with anatomical and physiological considerations, te...

Cricoid pressure: indications and complications.

Cricoid pressure to occlude the upper end of the oesophagus, also called the Sellick manoeuvre, may be used to decrease the risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents during intubation for rapid induction of anaesthesia. Effective and safe use of the technique requires training and experience. Cricoid pressure is contraindicated in patients with suspected cricotracheal injury, active vomi...

Cricoid pressure impedes placement of the laryngeal mask airway and subsequent tracheal intubation through the mask.

We have studied 40 patients to see if cricoid pressure affects the success rate of ventilation through, and the position of, the laryngeal mask and subsequent fiberscope-aided tracheal intubation. Adequate ventilation of the lungs was produced through the laryngeal mask in 19 of 20 patients in the control group, but in only 10 of 20 patients in the cricoid pressure group (P < 0.002). The laryng...

Cricoid pressure: the argument against