Emergency cricothyroidotomy for airway management

Cricothyroidotomy - The emergency surgical airway.

The creation of the emergency surgical airway, the emergency cricothyroidotomy, is the final step in “Cannot ventilate – cannot oxygenate” management guidelines and is a dreaded procedure among junior physicians. Studies have shown that initial attempts to create a surgical airway are often made by an anesthesiologist or a head and neck surgeon. The procedure is a high-risk, low-frequency one t...

Emergency airway management.

Emergency airway management is associated with a high complication rate. Evaluating the patient prior to airway management is important to identify patients with increased risk of failed airways. Pre-oxygenation of critically ill patients is less effective in comparison to less sick patients. Induction agents are often required, but most induction agents are associated with hypotension during e...

Emergency Airway Management

Airway skills are perhaps the most important skills that an emergency physician possesses. If the airway is lost in a critically ill patient for any reason, any of the other interventions you might make, or any great diagnoses are superfluous. It is good to remember that in the ABC’s of resuscitation, airway is first and foremost. With the exception of defibrillation in a cardiac arrest situati...

Emergency airway management with laryngeal mask airway.

When used correctly, laryngeal mask airway is a life saver. We report two cases wherein it was used for rescue airway management and as a ventilatory device during anesthesia. It is concluded that an anesthetist should be familiar with the use of this device.

Emergency Cricothyroidotomy in Tactical Combat Casualty Care.