Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026

The Rigid Tube as an Alternative in Controlling the Problematic Airway
Published on: June 6, 2020
[Subglottic airway access: cricothyrotomy]
J Cortiñas Díaz1, B López-de Abajo Rodríguez, J Costa Mourullo
1Servicio de Anestesiología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela. jcortinas@mundo-r.com
Abstract:
The anesthesiologist's chief responsibility is to ensure ventilation of the patient who is undergoing surgery or to apply resuscitation measures in life-threatening situations. Cricothyrotomy is one among many options available for maintaining airway patency. Usually it is the last resort but can be a lifesaving maneuver in the cannot-intubate, cannot-ventilate patient. The various types include cannula insertion, percutaneous puncture and dilatation, and surgical cricothyrotomy; techniques may be combined, as in the case of surgically inserting a cannula over a trocar.
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