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Emergency cricothyrotomy: long-term results
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Florida, Jacksonville, USA.
The American Surgeon
|April 20, 2001
Summary
Emergency cricothyrotomy (EC) effectively secures an airway with few long-term breathing issues. However, many survivors experience significant long-term health problems impacting their overall well-being.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Surgical Procedures
- Patient Outcomes
Background:
- Emergency cricothyrotomy (EC) is a life-saving procedure for emergent airway management.
- Previous reports focused on immediate success and survival rates, lacking long-term outcome data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term results and quality of life in survivors of emergency cricothyrotomy.
- To assess the incidence of late airway complications and overall patient well-being post-EC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 27 survivors from an original cohort of 65 emergency cricothyrotomy patients.
- Average follow-up duration of 37 months (range: 1-77 months).
Main Results:
- 13 patients had no airway issues; 14 experienced minor problems (e.g., hoarseness, mild stenosis).
- Only 7 of 27 survivors were doing well overall.
- 5 patients had minor issues (e.g., gastrostomy tube dependence, dyspnea, neurological deficits).
- 15 patients had major problems (e.g., cervical spine injuries, cognitive impairment, permanent care needs, seizures).
- Most severe problems were attributed to the underlying condition, not the EC procedure itself.
Conclusions:
- Emergency cricothyrotomy is effective for securing an airway with a low rate of severe late airway complications.
- Despite airway success, a significant proportion of EC survivors experience substantial long-term morbidity and poor overall outcomes, often related to their primary pathology.