CRICOTHYROTOMY

A 'cricothyrotomy' (also called 'thyrocricotomy', 'cricothyroidotomy', 'inferior laryngotomy', 'intercricothyrotomy', 'coniotomy' or 'emergency airway puncture') is an emergency incision through the skin and cricothyroid membrane to secure a patient's airway during certain emergency situations, such as an airway obstructed by a foreign object or swelling, a patient who is not able to breathe adequately on their own, or in cases of major facial trauma which prevent an airway through the mouth. A cricothyrotomy is usually performed by emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, or paramedics as a last resort when control of the airway by usual means (an endotracheal tube through the mouth) have failed or are not feasible.

Contents

Procedure

Cricothyrotomy in TV and Film

See also

References

External links

Procedure

The procedure was first described in 1805 by Vicq d'Azyr, a French surgeon and anatomist. A cricothyrotomy is generally performed by making an incision on the skin of the neck just below the "Adam's apple", or thyroid cartilage, then making another incision in the cricothyroid membrane which lies deep to this point. One then inserts a tube into this opening, which allows one to breathe for the patient with a machine or bag.

Cricothyrotomy in TV and Film

On the TV show ''M
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★ H'', Father Mulcahy performs an emergency cricothyrotomy on a patient. With the direction of Dr. Pierce via radio, he uses a pen knife and ball point pen to perform the operation. Needless to say, this would be extremely dangerous in real life. Even under ideal, clinical conditions, a cricothyrotomy is difficult and requires specific tools, preparation and a practiced knowledge of anatomy. There are many major blood vessels and nerves in the neck and cutting there, even with the best of intentions carries a high risk of harming the patient. For that reason, among others, it is illegal to attempt to perform a cricothyrotomy without a medical license.
In the 1980 Nicolas Roeg film "Bad Timing," Theresa Russell's character Milena Flaherty has an emergency cricothyrotomy performed following an intentional overdose.

See also

★ Laryngotomy

★ Tracheotomy

References

★ Barone, Jeanine. Tracheotomy. ''health.enotes.com''. URL last accessed February 28 2006.

★ Brookside Associates; US Army Medical department. Cricothyroidotomy. ''www.brooksidepress.org''. URL last accessed February 28 2006.

★ Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. URL last accessed February 28 2006.

★ Reis, Carlos. Cricothyroidotomy. ''www.medstudents.com.br''. URL last accessed February 28 2006.

★ SIAARTI study committee on the difficult airway. SIAARTI guidelines for difficult intubation and for difficult airway management. ''anestit.unipa.it''. URL last accessed February 28 2006.

External links

★ Drawing of a cricothyrotomy

★ Smiths Medical (Cricothyroidotomy products for Adults and Children)

★ Medstudents: Procedures: Cricothyrotomy