Related Experiment Videos
Surgical cricothyroidotomy in trauma patients
Mary Jo Wright1, David E Greenberg, John P Hunt
1Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|August 13, 2003
Summary
Converting cricothyroidotomy to tracheostomy did not reduce acute complications. Prolonged ventilation via cricothyroidotomy is a safe alternative for trauma patients, showing similar or fewer complications than tracheostomy conversion.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Surgical Airway Management
Background:
- Surgical airway intervention is sometimes needed when endotracheal intubation fails or is contraindicated.
- Patients undergoing cricothyroidotomy face a choice between long-term ventilation via the cricothyroidotomy or conversion to tracheostomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if converting cricothyroidotomy to tracheostomy reduces acute complications.
- To evaluate the safety of long-term ventilation via cricothyroidotomy in trauma patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 46 patients who underwent cricothyroidotomy at a level I trauma center over 63 months.
- Analysis of success rates, indications, etiology, and complications.
Main Results:
- All procedures successfully secured an airway, most commonly due to failed endotracheal intubation.
- The group converted to tracheostomy experienced a higher percentage of acute complications compared to the non-converted group.
- No deaths were attributed to airway complications.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged ventilation via cricothyroidotomy portal has an acute complication rate equal to or lower than conversion to tracheostomy.
- Cricothyroidotomy can be utilized for long-term ventilation in trauma patients without increasing acute complications.