Preparing for a cricothyrotomy procedure

First, you need to find the cricothyroid membrane (i.e., cricoid ring), which is the hardest part of this procedure. The cricoid ring is the cartilage immediately below the thyroid cartilage (i.e., Adam’s apple). This membrane will need to be cut so that the endotracheal tube (ETT) can be placed through it. At the level of the cricothyroid membrane, the ETT will need to be inserted below the vocal cords.

It’s easy to find these structures in thin people. But, it is very challenging when your patient is dying, sweat-covered, and morbidly obese!

You’ll have to do your best to feel for the structures. If all else fails, just pick the middle of the neck and make your initial vertical incision. Then, feel for the structures once you’ve cut past the fat. It’s okay to extend the incision if it’s too high or too low.

Because of the bleeding, you won’t be able to see anything. This is a tactile procedure, you will only be able to figure out where the structures are by feeling with your fingers.

Instead of using a manufacturer’s kit for cricothyrotomy, it is recommended to keep it simple and use the tools listed below. The cricothyrotomy kits are dangerous, because by the time you find the kit at the bottom of a drawer and open the package, your patient may already be brain dead from hypoxia!

• Disposable #10 surgical blade
• 6.0 ETT tube with an attached 5 cc syringe
• Bougie

The reason why we suggest the 6.0 ETT is because it has a diameter of 1 cm, which is the size of an average adult’s cricothyroid space.

If you have the luxury of time to prepare for this procedure (which you usually never do), it’s good to have sterilizing solution and a face mask with a shield. Take a deep breath. This is a stressful procedure!

The next step is to prepare the 6.0 ETT:

1. Cut the tube in half right above the balloon tubing.
2. Take the ventilator attachment (white plastic connector) and attach it back to the cut tube.
3. Load the shortened 6.0 ETT onto the bougie.

So that's it! You’ve learned how to prepare for a cricothyrotomy procedure.

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