The tracheas of 12 patients who had undergone autopsies after percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy (PDT) were analyzed macroscopically and microscopically. The puncture site of the trachea varied from just below the cricoid cartilage (two patients) to below the third ring (three patients). A fracture of one or more tracheal rings was present in 11 patients, of whom 2 had a fractured cricoid. D...

The dog was hit by a car and immediately after the accident no abnormalities were present. One month later there were changes in phonation and dyspnea. Considerations were laryngeal paralysis, laryngeal neoplasia, abscess, cyst, granuloma, or hematoma. Laryngeal collapse due to chondromalacia was considered less likely due to the breed. The laryngeal lumen was narrow with an irregular mucosal s...

Laryngeal fracture is a rare traumatic injury, potentially fatal, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 30,000 patients admitted to severe trauma centers. Because of the rarity of this injury, physician may be not aware of its existence, leading to a late diagnosis of this entity. We report a case of a 59-year-old woman admitted to the emergency room after a motorcycle accident with cervical trau...

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS To examine the short- and long-term histopathologic changes that occur in the subglottis in response to airway balloon dilation (ABD) with different balloon diameters and inflation pressures. STUDY DESIGN Prospective animal study using forty-two 8-month old New Zealand white rabbits at an academic animal research facility. METHODS Thirty-nine live New Zealand rabbits un...

Introduction: Laryngotracheal stenosis can be caused after traumatic injuries to the neck from the subglottic larynx to the trachea. Patients with laryngotracheal stenosis often need a tracheotomy and occasionally may become tracheotomy dependent. Different procedures have been described for the management of these lesions. Management options include techniques of endoscopic dilation, laser res...

Using an airway management training model, we have assessed anaesthesia personnel in their use of correct cricoid force and ability to retain this skill after a short training programme. A perspex device, working on a hydraulic principle, was used to measure cricoid pressure when applied to the model. After initial assessment at two levels of cricoid force (20 and 40 N), participants undertook ...

Laryngotracheal trauma is a rare condition that accounts for less than 1% of blunt trauma. Laryngotracheal fractures are uncommon in sports, even in settings where athletes are more vulnerable, including football, basketball, and hockey. If a laryngeal injury is suspected, immediate evaluation is required to avoid a delay in the diagnosis of a potentially life-threatening injury. A collegiate b...

Cricoid pressure is considered an integral part of patient safety in rapid sequence tracheal intubation and emergency airway management. Cricoid pressure is applied to prevent the regurgitation of gastric contents into the pharynx and subsequent aspiration into the pulmonary tree. This review analyzes the published evidence supporting cricoid pressure, along with potential problems, including i...

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...