Percutaneous transtracheal jet ventilation: an important airway adjunct

Situations wherein patients cannot be ventilated or intubated rarely occur. When they do, however, death is imminent unless rapid and accurate actions are taken to restore adequate gas exchange. Under these circumstances, percutaneous transtracheal high-pressure jet ventilation (TTJV) through an intravenous catheter is life saving. The authors report two recent cases where TTJV was employed to regain control over obstructed upper airways. Discussion of the cases and the therapeutic modality follows. The summary includes a call for the immediate availability of TTJV at all anesthetizing locations.