Knowing when to perform cricothyrotomy

Cricothyrotomy is the way to definitively secure the airway of a dying patient (who can't be intubated or ventilated) by cutting a hole through the neck and placing a breathing tube directly into the bronchus.

^{Figure 1. Cricothyrotomy requires cutting a hole through the neck and placing a breathing tube directly into the bronchus.}

 

Indications for cricothyrotomy

There are four indications for the cricothyrotomy procedure: 

1. Upper airway obstruction
2. Laryngeal spasm
3. Trismus
4. Trauma 

^{Figure 2. Indications for the cricothyrotomy procedure include obstruction of upper airway, laryngeal spasm, trismus, and trauma.} 

 

Contraindications for cricothyrotomy

There are three important contraindications for the cricothyrotomy procedure: 

1. There is an alternative and less invasive way to secure the airway.  
2. Your patient is younger than eight years old (underdeveloped cricothyroid membrane).
3. The obstruction is below the cricothyroid membrane. 

^{Figure 3. Contraindications for the cricothyrotomy procedure include availability of an alternative and less invasive procedure, patient younger than eight years old, and obstructions below the cricothyroid membrane.}

 

Consent for cricothyrotomy

Consent is not possible for cricothyrotomy unless you anticipate a difficult airway before a patient is paralyzed for intubation. 

In general, you’ll only be performing this heroic procedure if the patient is already dying. If you’re performing a cricothyrotomy, you’ve already determined there is no other alternative, and if you don’t perform the procedure, your patient will die. 

 

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