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Background: Cricothyrotomy is a lifesaving surgical technique in critical airway events. However, a large proportion of anesthesiologists have little experience with cricothyrotomy due to its low incidence. This study aimed to develop a multisensory, readily available training curriculum for learning cricothyrotomy and evaluate its training effectiveness. Methods: Seventy board-certificated anesthesiologists were recruited into the study. Participants first viewed an instructional video and observed an expert performing the bougie-assisted cricothyrotomy on a self-made simulator. They were tested before and after a one-hour practice on their cricothyrotomy skills and evaluated by a checklist and a global rating scale (GRS). Additionally, a questionnaire survey regarding participants' confidence in performing cricothyrotomy was conducted during the training session. Results: The duration to complete cricothyrotomy was decreased from the pretest (median = 85.0 s, IQR = 72.5–103.0 s) to the posttest (median = 59.0 s, IQR = 49.0–69.0 s). Furthermore, the median checklist score was increased significantly from the pretest (median = 30.0, IQR = 27.0-33.5) to the posttest (median = 37.0, IQR = 35.5–39.0), as well as the GRS score (pretest median = 22.5, IQR = 18.0–25.0, posttest median = 32.0, IQR = 31.0-33.5). Participants' confidence levels in performing cricothyrotomy also improved after the curriculum. Conclusion: The simulation-based training with a self-made simulator is effective for teaching anesthesiologists to perform cricothyrotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is one of the conditions that may require invasive airway management. The effectiveness of invasive airway techniques in obesity is not fully understood, and there is no routinely recommended technique. This study aimed to compare the first attempt success rate, procedure time, and difficulty of traditional surgical cricothyrotomy and bougie-guided cricothyrotomy on a 3D-printed surgical airway manikin made obese using simple techniques. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective randomized controlled study. The obese simulation was created with a 3D-printed surgical airway manikin and sponge layers. Bougie-guided cricothyrotomy and traditional cricothyrotomy techniques were taught to emergency residents, and they were asked to practice the technique on the designed manikin. The duration of the procedure for both techniques, the number of attempts, the success rate, and the difficulty scores of the techniques were recorded. Results: A total of 24 residents were included in the study. As the first technique, 13 residents used bougie-guided cricothyrotomy. A total of 23 (95.8%) were successful with both techniques. In the traditional surgical cricothyrotomy, 7 (31.8%) residents were successful on the first attempt, while in the bougie-guided cricothyrotomy, 15 (68.2%) residents were successful on the first attempt (p = 0.020). In residents with less than 2 years of seniority, the mean difficulty score of the bougie-guided cricothyrotomy was lower (p = 0.024). Conclusions: The success rate of the bougie-guided cricothyrotomy in the first attempt was higher than that of the traditional surgical technique. There was no statistically significant difference between the overall success rates and procedure times of both methods. The level of difficulty of the bougie-guided cricothyrotomy was found to be easier, especially for residents with less than two years of seniority. Presentations: The manuscript has been presented 9th EurAsian Congress on Emergency Medicine (oral presentation) at the 9–12 November, 2023, Antalya, Turkey, and won the best oral abstract award at this congress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cricothyrotomy is a procedure performed to establish an airway in critical airway events. It is performed only rarely and anesthesiologists are often unprepared when called upon to perform it. This study aimed to simulate cricothyrotomy using pig larynx and trachea models to help anesthesiologists master cricothyrotomy and improve the ability to establish cricothyrotomy quickly. Methods: The porcine larynx and trachea were dissected and covered with pigskin to simulate the structure of the anterior neck of a human patient. An animal model of cricothyrotomy was established. Forty anesthesiologists were randomly divided into four groups. Each physician performed three rounds of cricothyrotomy, and recorded the time to accomplish each successful operation. After training the cricothyrotomy procedure, a questionnaire survey was conducted for the participating residents using a Likert scale. The participants were asked to score the utility of the training course on a scale of 1 ((minimum) to 5 ((maximum). Results: Through repeated practice, compared with the time spent in the first round of the operation (67 ± 29 s), the time spent in the second round of the operation (47 ± 21 s) and the time spent in the third round of the operation (36 ± 11 s) were significantly shortened (P < 0.05). Results of the survey after training were quite satisfied, reflecting increased the ability of proficiency in locating the cricothyroid membrane and performing a surgical cricothyrotomy. Conclusion: The porcine larynx and trachea model is an excellent animal model for simulating and practicing cricothyrotomy, helping anesthesiologists to master cricothyrotomy and to perform it proficiently when required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Emergency surgical airway securing techniques include cricothyrotomy, puncture, and incision. While the instruments used for these methods vary in size, no index of laryngeal morphology exists to guide instrument selection. Therefore, we measured the morphology of the cricothyroid ligament in Japanese individuals and assessed its correlations with height. Methods: This retrospective study used 61 anatomical practice specimens. The cricothyroid ligament of the laryngeal area was dissected, and a frontal image was recorded. Next, images of the midsagittal sections of the larynx and trachea were recorded. The width and height of the cricothyroid ligament were measured from the frontal images, and the depth of the larynx and the angle to the lower edge of the cricothyroid plate were measured from the mid-sagittal cross-sectional images. The height was estimated from the tibial lengths of the specimens and statistically analyzed for correlations. Results: The width and depth were significantly greater in males. Overall, there was a slight correlation between the results of each laryngeal measurement and estimated height for all items. Conclusion: The morphology of cricothyrotomy revealed that the width and depth of the laryngeal area varied according to sex. Moreover, the results also showed a correlation with the estimated height. Thus, it is important to predict the morphology of the laryngeal area and cricothyroid ligament by considering factors such as patient sex, weight, and height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate identification of the cricothyroid membrane is crucial for successful cricothyrotomy; however, a manoeuvre that helps identify it both accurately and quickly remains unclear. The effectiveness of the so-called 'bottom-up manoeuvre' has never been investigated. This study aimed to examine whether the bottom-up manoeuvre is as rapid and accurate as the conventional 'top-down manoeuvre' at identifying the cricothyroid membrane. Methods: This study was a prospective randomised cross-over trial conducted at an academic medical centre between 2018 and 2019. Fifth-year medical students participated. The students were trained in the use of either the top-down manoeuvre or the bottom-up manoeuvre first. Each student subsequently performed the technique once on a volunteer. The students were then taught and practiced the other manoeuvre as well. The accuracy of cricothyroid membrane identification and the time taken by successful participants only were measured and compared between the manoeuvres using equivalence tests with two one-sided tests. Results: A total of 102 medical students participated in this study and there was no missing data. The accuracy of identification and time required for success were similar between the top-down manoeuvre and the bottom-up manoeuvre (65.7% vs. 70.6%, taking 13.8 s [interquartile range (IQR): 9.4–17.5] vs. 15.5 s [IQR: 11.5–19.9], respectively). The success rate was statistically equivalent (rate difference, 4.9%; 90% confidence interval [CI], -5.8 to 15.6; equivalence margin, -20.0 to 20.0). The time required for success was also statistically equivalent (median difference, 1.7 s; 90% CI, -0.2 to 3.3; equivalence margin, -4.0 to 4.0). Conclusion: Among students first trained in both manoeuvres for identifying the cricothyroid membrane, the speed and accuracy of identification were similar between those using the bottom-up manoeuvre and those using the top-down manoeuvre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emergency front-of-neck airway (eFONA) is a life-saving procedure in "cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate" (CICO). The fastest and most reliable method of eFONA has not been determined. We compared two of the most advocated approaches: surgical cricothyroidotomy and percutaneous cricothyroidotomy, in an obese, in vivo porcine hemorrhage model, designed to introduce real-time physiological feedback, relevant and high provider stress. The primary aim was to determine the fastest method to secure airway. Secondary aims were arterial saturation and partial pressure of oxygen, proxy survival and influence of experience. Methods: Twelve pigs, mean weight (standard deviation, SD) (60.3 ± 4.1) kg, were anesthetized and exposed to 25–35% total blood volume hemorrhage before extubation and randomization to Seldinger technique "percutaneous cricothyroidotomy" (n = 6) or scalpel-bougie-tube technique "surgical cricothyroidotomy" (n = 6). Specialists in anesthesia and intensive care in a tertiary referral hospital performed the eFONA, simulating an actual CICO-situation. Results: In surgical cricothyroidotomy vs. percutaneous cricothyroidotomy, the median (interquartile range, IQR) times to secure airway were 109 (IQR 71–130) s and 298 (IQR 128–360) s (P = 0.0152), arterial blood saturation (SaO2) were 74.7 (IQR 46.6–84.2) % and 7.9 (IQR 4.1–15.6) % (P = 0.0167), pO2 were 7.0 (IQR 4.7–7.7) kPa and 2.0 (IQR 1.1–2.9) kPa (P = 0.0667), and times of cardiac arrest (proxy survival) were 137–233 s, 190 (IQR 143–229), from CICO. All six animals survived surgical cricothyroidotomy, and two of six (33%) animals survived percutaneous cricothyroidotomy. Years in anesthesia, 13.5 (IQR 7.5–21.3), did not influence time to secure airway. Conclusion: eFONA by surgical cricothyroidotomy was faster and had increased oxygenation and survival, when performed under stress by board certified anesthesiologists, and may be an indication of preferred method in situations with hemorrhage and CICO, in obese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The self-video feedback method may have the potential to provide a low-cost alternative to physician-driven simulation-based training. This study aimed to assess the utility of two video feedback methods by comparing the improvement in performing cricothyroidotomy procedure following self video feedback (trainees review their performance by themselves) and expert-assisted video feedback (trainees review their performance while an emergency physician provides additional feedback). Methods: This study was pretest-posttest and two-group designed research performed at a university simulation center with 89 final-year medical students and used a cricothyroidotomy simulation model. After seeing an educational presentation and a best practice video, trainees were randomized into two groups; self video feedback group (SVFG) and expert-assisted video feedback group (EVFG). They performed the cricothyroidotomy before and after the feedback. The procedures were also recorded and scored by two emergency physicians. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement between pre-feedback and post-feedback assessments in terms of scores received and time needed for the procedures in both SVFG and EVFG groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, the post-feedback assessment scores were higher and time needed for the procedure was lower in the EVFG when compared with SVFG (p < 0.05 for both). Conclusions: Results demonstrated significant improvement in cricothyroidotomy performance with both types of video feedback method. Even though the improvement was better in the EVFG compared to the SVFG, the self video feedback may have value especially in situations where expert-assisted feedback is not possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advanced prehospital airway management includes complex procedures carried out in challenging environments, necessitating a high level of technical and non-technical skills. We aimed to describe Norwegian Air Ambulance-crews' performance in a difficult airway scenario simulation, ending with a "cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate"-situation.Methods: The study describes Air Ambulance crews' management of a simulated difficult airway scenario. We used video-observation to assess time expenditure according to pre-defined time intervals and technical and non-technical performance was evaluated according to a structured evaluation-form.Results: Thirty-six crews successfully completed the emergency cricothyroidotomy with mean procedural time 118 (SD: ±70) seconds. There was variation among the crews in terms of completed procedural steps, including preparation of equipment, patient- monitoring and management. The participants demonstrated uniform and appropriate situational awareness, and effective communication and resource utilization within the crews was evident.Conclusions: We found that Norwegian Air Ambulance crews managed a prehospital "cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate"-situation with an emergency cricothyroidotomy under stressful conditions with effective communication and resource utilization, and within a reasonable timeframe. Some discrepancies between standard operating procedures and performance are observed. Further studies to assess the impact of check lists on procedural aspects of airway management in the prehospital environment are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is recommended that difficult airway predictors be evaluated before emergency airway management. However, little is known about how patients with difficult airway predictors are managed in emergency departments. We aimed to explore the incidence, management and outcomes of patients with difficult airway predictors in an emergency department.Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using intubation data collected by a prospective registry in an academic emergency department from November 2017 to October 2018. Records with complete assessment of difficult airway predictors were included. Two categories of predictors were analyzed: predicted difficult intubation by direct laryngoscopy and predicted difficult bag-mask ventilation. The former was evaluated based on difficult external appearance, mouth opening and thyromental distance, Mallampati score, obstruction, and limited neck mobility as in the mnemonic "LEMON". The latter was evaluated based on difficult mask sealing, obstruction or obesity, absence of teeth, advanced age and reduced pulmonary compliance as in the mnemonic "MOANS". The incidence, management and outcomes of patients with these difficult airway predictors were explored.Results: During the study period, 220 records met the inclusion criteria. At least 1 difficult airway predictor was present in 183 (83.2%) patients; 57 (25.9%) patients had at least one LEMON feature, and 178 (80.9%) had at least one MOANS feature. Among patients with at least one difficult airway predictor, both sedation and neuromuscular blocking agents were used in 105 (57.4%) encounters, only sedation was used in 65 (35.5%) encounters, and no medication was administered in 13 (7.1%) encounters. First-pass success was accomplished in 136 (74.3%) of the patients. Compared with patients without predictors, patients with positive LEMON criteria were less likely to receive neuromuscular blocking agents (OR 0.46 (95% CI 0.24-0.87), p = 0.02) after adjusting for operator experience and device used. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding glottic view, first-pass success, or complications. The LEMON criteria poorly predicted unsuccessful first pass and glottic view.Conclusions: In emergency airway management, difficult airway predictors were associated with decreased use of neuromuscular blocking agents but were not associated with glottic view, first-pass success, or complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The application of manual emergency skills is essential in intensive care medicine. Simulation training on cadavers may be beneficial. The aim of this study was to analyze a skill-training aiming to enhance ICU-fellows´ performance. Methods: A skill-training was prepared for chest tube insertion, pericardiocentesis, and cricothyroidotomy. Supervision levels (SL) for entrustable professional activities (EPA) were applied to evaluate skill performance. Pre- and post-training, SL and fellows´ self- versus consultants´ external assessment was compared. Time on skill training was compared to conventional training in the ICU-setting. Results: Comparison of pre/post external assessment showed reduced required SL for chest tube insertion, pericardiocentesis, and cricothyroidotomy. Self- and external assessed SL did not significantly correlate for pre-training/post-training pericardiocentesis and post-training cricothyroidotomy. Correlations were observed for self- and external assessment SL for chest tube insertion and pre-assessment for cricothyroidotomy. Compared to conventional training in the ICU-setting, chest tube insertion training may further be time-saving. Conclusions: Emergency skill training separated from a daily clinical ICU-setting appeared feasible and useful to enhance skill performance in ICU fellows and may reduce respective SL. We observed that in dedicated skill-training sessions, required time resources would be somewhat reduced compared to conventional training methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human factors research has identified mental models as a key component for the effective sharing and organization of knowledge. The challenge lies in the development and application of tools that help team members to arrive at a shared understanding of a situation. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of a semi-structured briefing on the management of a simulated airway emergency. Methods: 37 interprofessional teams were asked to perform a simulated rapid-sequence induction in the simulator. Teams were presented with a "cannot ventilate, cannot oxygenate" scenario that ultimately required a cricothyroidotomy. Study group (SG) teams were asked to perform a briefing prior to induction, while controls (CG) were asked to perform their usual routine. Results: We observed no difference in the mean time until cricothyroidotomy (SG 8:31 CG 8:16, p = 0.36). There was a significant difference in groups' choice of alternative means of oxygenation: While SG teams primarily chose supraglottic airway devices, controls initially reverted to mask ventilation (p = 0.005). SG teams spent significantly less time with this alternative airway device and were quicker to advance in the airway algorithm. Conclusions: Our study addresses effects on team coordination through a shared mental model as effected by a briefing prior to anesthesia induction. We found measurable improvements in airway management during those stages of the difficult airway algorithm explicitly discussed in the briefing. For those, time spent was shorter and participants were quicker to advance in the airway algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At many academic institutions, anesthesiology residents are responsible for managing emergent intubations outside of the operating room (OOOR), with complications estimated to be as high as 39%. In order to create an OOOR training curriculum, we evaluated residents' familiarity with the content and correct adherence to the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Difficult Airway Algorithm (ASA DAA). Methods: Residents completed a pre-simulation multiple-choice survey measuring their understanding and use of the DAA. Residents then managed an emergent, difficult OOOR intubation in the simulation center, where two trained reviewers assessed performance using checklists. Post-simulation, the residents completed a survey rating their behaviors during the simulation. The primary outcome was comprehension and adherence to the DAA as assessed by survey responses and behavior in the simulation. Results: Sixty-three residents completed both surveys and the simulation. Post-survey responses indicated a shift toward decreased self-perceived familiarity with the DAA content compared to pre-survey responses. During the simulation, 22 (35%) residents were unsuccessful with intubation. Of these, 46% placed an LMA and 46% prepared for cricothyroidotomy. Nineteen residents did not attempt intubation. Of these, only 31% considered LMA placement, and 26% initiated cricothyroidotomy. Conclusions: Many anesthesiology residency training programs permit resident autonomy in managing emergent intubations OOOR. Residents self-reported familiarity with the content of and adherence to the DAA was higher than that observed during the simulation. Curriculum focused on comprehension of the DAA, as well as improving communication with higher-level physicians and specialists, may improve outcomes during OOORs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The cricothyroid membrane (CTM) is the recommended site of access to the airway during cricothyrotomy to provide emergency oxygenation. We sought to compare the ability of physicians to correctly identify the CTM in male and female patients. Methods In a prospective observational study, anaesthetists were asked to locate the CTM by palpation which was then identified using ultrasound and the distance between the actual and estimated margin of the CTM was measured. Participants assessed the ease of CTM palpation using a visual analog scale. In a second series, the angulation of the posterior junction of the thyroid laminae was measured using ultrasound. 23 anaesthetists and 44 subjects participated. A total of 36 assessments were carried out in each gender. Incorrect identification of the CTM was more common in females (29/36 vs. 11/36, P < 0.001) and the distance from the CTM in the vertical plane was greater (11.0 [6.5-20.0] vs. 0.0 [0.0-10.0] mm, P < 0.001). In females distance from the CTM correlated positively with neck circumference (P = 0.005) and BMI (P = 0.00005) and negatively with subject height (P = 0.01). Posterior thyroid cartilage angulation was greater in females (118.6 ± 9.4° vs. 95.9 ± 12.9°, P < 0.001) and was lower in patients with correctly identified CTMs (100.0 ± 14.9° vs. 115.6 ± 15.9°, P = 0.02). VRS palpation correlated with decreased posterior thyroid cartilage angulation (P = 0.04). Conclusions CTM localisation is more difficult in female subjects irrespective of body habitus. It may be prudent to localize this structure by additional means (e.g. ultrasound) in advance of any airway manoeuvres or to modify the cricothyrotomy technique in the event that it is necessary in an emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A large number of techniques and devices for cricothyroidotomy have been developed. In this study, the Portex™ Cricothyroidotomy Kit (PCK, Smiths Medical Ltd, Hythe, UK) was compared with the bougie assisted emergency surgical cricothyrotomy technique (BACT). Methods: Twenty air ambulance anaesthesiologists performed emergency cricothyrotomy on a cadaveric porcine airway model using both PCK and BACT. Baseline performance and performance after the intensive training package were recorded. Success rate, time to secured airway and tracheal damage were the primary endpoints, and confidence rating was a secondary endpoint. Results: During baseline testing, success rates for PCK and BACT were 60% and 95%, respectively. Tracheal injury rate with PCK was 60% while no such injury was found in BACT. A lecture was given and skills were trained until the participants were able to perform five consecutive successful procedures with both techniques. In the posttraining test, all participants were successful with either technique. The mean time to successful insertion was reduced by 15.7 seconds (from 36.3 seconds to 20.6 seconds, p< 0.001) for PCK and by 7.8 seconds (from 44.9 seconds to 37.1 seconds, p=0.021) for BACT. In the post-training scenario, securing the airway with PCK was significantly faster than with BACT (p<0.001). Post-training tracheal laceration occurred in six (30%) of the PCK procedures and in none of the BACT procedures (p=0.028). The self-evaluated confidence level was measured both pre- and post-training using a confidence scale with 10 indicating maximum amount of confidence. The median values increased from 4 to 8 for PCK and from 6.5 to 9.5 for BACT. All participants reported that BACT was their preferred technique. Conclusions: Testing the base-line PCK skills of prehospital anaesthesiologists revealed low confidence, sub-optimal performance and a very high failure rate. The BACT technique demonstrated a significantly higher success rate and no tracheal damage. In spite of PCK being a significantly faster technique in the post-training test, the anaesthesiologists still reported a higher confidence in BACT. Limitations of the cadaveric porcine airway may have influenced this study because the airway did not challenge the clinicians with realistic tissue bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An emergency cricothyrotomy is the last-resort in most airway management protocols and is performed when it is not possible to intubate or ventilate a patient. This situation can rapidly prove fatal, making it important to identify the best method to establish a secure airway. We conducted a systematic review to identify whether there exists superiority between available commercial kits versus traditional surgical and needle techniques. Methods: Medline, EMBASE and other databases were searched for pertinent studies. The inclusion criteria included manikin, animal and human studies and there were no restrictions regarding the professional background of the person performing the procedure. Results: In total, 1,405 unique references were identified; 108 full text articles were retrieved; and 24 studies were included in the review. Studies comparing kits with one another or with various surgical and needle techniques were identified. The outcome measures included in this systematic review were success rate and time consumption. The investigators performing the studies had chosen unique combinations of starting and stopping points for time measurements, making comparisons between studies difficult and leading to many conflicting results. No single method was shown to be better than the others, but the size of the studies makes it impossible to draw firm conclusions. Conclusions: The large majority of the studies were too small to demonstrate statistically significant differences, and the limited available evidence was of low or very low quality. That none of the techniques in these studies demonstrated better results than the others does not necessarily indicate that each is equally good, and these conclusions will likely change as new evidence becomes available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Emergent cricothyrotomy (EC) is a rare and lifesaving procedure to secure a difficult airway when other methods have failed. Many techniques have been discussed in the literature. This study aimed to identify major techniques used to perform EC in a regional trauma center and evaluate outcomes associated with the techniques., Methods: Patients who underwent EC at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center between 1-1-2009 and 1-1-2019 were reviewed for eligibility for this study. Patients' data were extracted from the trauma database. Chi-square tests were conducted to assess the difference on variables between the techniques., Results: A total of 51 (0.17%) of these patients required EC and were included in the database. The two most prevalent techniques were the scalpel-bougie-tube (SBT) and the surgical cricothyrotomy technique (SCT). More than half (n = 27, 52.9%) of the cohort received the SBT. There was no statistically significant difference between the two techniques with regards to demographic variables, including age (p = 0.7528), injury severity score (ISS, p = 0.896), gender (p = 0.3709), and race (p = 0.8935). However, the SCT group had a statistically higher Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) than the SBT group (p = 0.0036). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality or complications between these two groups (p = 0.2172 for mortality)., Discussion: Two techniques of EC were identified as preferred techniques. Both procedures were successful in securing an emergency airway, noting a difference in the time to completion of the two techniques. Given the rarity of the procedure, practitioners may choose the method based on their training and the availability of appropriate instruments., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Airway guidelines recommend an emergency surgical airway as a potential life-saving treatment in a "Can't Intubate, Can't Oxygenate" (CICO) situation. Surgical airways can be achieved either through a cricothyroidotomy or tracheostomy. The current literature has limited data regarding complications of cricothyroidotomy and tracheostomy in an emergency situation. The objective of this systematic review is to analyze complications following cricothyroidotomy and tracheostomy in airway emergencies. Methods: This synthesis of literature was exempt from ethics approval. Eight databases were searched from inception to October 2018, using a comprehensive search strategy. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials or observational studies reporting complications following emergency surgical airway. Complications were classified as minor (evolving to spontaneous remission or not requiring intervention or not persisting chronically), major (requiring intervention or persisting chronically), early (from the start of the procedure up to 7 days) and late (beyond 7 days of the procedure). Results: We retrieved 2659 references from our search criteria. Following the removal of duplicates, title and abstract review, 33 articles were selected for full-text reading. Twenty-one articles were finally included in the systematic review. We found no differences in minor, major or early complications between the two techniques. However, late complications were significantly more frequent in the tracheostomy group [OR (95% CI) 0.21 (0.20–0.22), p < 0.0001]. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that cricothyroidotomies performed in emergent situations resulted in fewer late complications than tracheostomies. This finding supports the recommendations from the latest Difficult Airway Society (DAS) guidelines regarding using cricothyroidotomy as the technique of choice for emergency surgical airway. However, emergency cricothyroidotomies should be converted to tracheostomies in a timely fashion as there is insufficient evidence to suggest that emergency cricothyrotomies are long term airways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical cricothyroidotomy is a last resort in patients with an anticipated difficult airway, but without any guarantee of success. Identification of the cricothyroid membrane may be the key to successful cricothyrotomy. Ultrasonographic identification of the cricothyroid membrane has been reported to be more useful than the conventional palpation technique. However, ultrasonographic identification techniques are not yet fully characterized. Case presentation: A 28-year-old man with hemophilia and poor adherence to medication. He was brought to the emergency department with a large cervical hematoma and respiratory difficulty. An otolaryngologist decided to insert a tracheal tube to maintain his airway. However, emergent laryngoscopy indicated an anticipated difficult airway. A backup plan that included awake intubation by the anesthesiologists and surgical cricothyroidotomy by an otolaryngologist was devised. The cricothyroid membrane could not be identified by palpation but was detected by ultrasonographic identification with a longitudinal approach. Awake fiberoptic intubation was successfully performed. Conclusions: In this case, the cricothyroid membrane could be identified using the longitudinal approach but not the transverse approach. It may be ideal to know which ultrasound technique can be applied for each patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical cricothyroidotomy is considered to be the last resort for management of the difficult airway. A major point for a successful surgical cricothyroidotomy is to identify the location of the cricothyroid membrane.Case Presentation: We encountered a patient with progressive respiratory distress who was anticipated to have a difficult airway due to a large neck abscess. We prepared for both awake intubation and surgical cricothyroidotomy. The cricothyroid membrane could not be identified by palpation, but was readily identified using ultrasound.Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided identification of the cricothyroid membrane may be useful in a patient with a difficult airway due to neck swelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discuss the study about the quality of surgical or needle cricothyroidotomy technique in addressing the management of the emergency airway. The authors cite that the study's conclusion that no cricothyroidotomy technique is superior to others does not mean that all techniques have similar success rates and complications. The authors believe that surgical airway is a reliable technique and advances in airway training and equipment will reduce failed intubation rates.