Ultrasound-Guided Neck Assessment

Ultrasound for the airway can be used for diagnosing pathology and as a tool for the prediction of a difficult airway. Recognizing some basic structures within the neck and being able to differentiate between normal anatomy and associated pathology can improve clinical decision-making. Unlike other imaging modalities ultrasound can provide real-time dynamic information of the airway. The hyoid bone, larynx, vocal cords, cricothyroidmembrane, trachea and thyroid can be identified with some practice. It is recommended to gain experience scanning these areas in non-emergent situations so when the skills are needed at a critical time they have been well rehearsed. The most important skill is arguably proper identification of the cricothyroid membrane in case of a “cannot intubate, cannot ventilate” situation.