Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
10:06
Manufacture of a Multi-Purpose Low-Cost Animal Bench-Model for Teaching Tracheostomy
Published on: May 18, 2019
Optimizing emergent surgical cricothyrotomy for use in austere environments
M Josephine Hessert1, Brad L Bennett
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, USA.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine
|October 16, 2012
Summary
Emergent cricothyrotomy, a critical surgical airway procedure, faces challenges in austere settings. Military data show a 33% failure rate, highlighting the need for optimized techniques and training for battlefield medics.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Surgical Procedures
- Trauma Care
Background:
- Emergent cricothyrotomy is a rare but vital procedure for severely injured patients.
- Austere environments, such as battlefields, present unique difficulties for emergency medical interventions.
- Military registry data indicate a significant failure rate in battlefield cricothyrotomies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing knowledge on cricothyrotomy.
- To apply this knowledge to austere environments for qualified providers.
- To identify areas for optimizing procedures, equipment, and training.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search of PubMed was conducted using terms like "prehospital," "cricothyroidotomy," and "surgical airway."
- Findings were filtered for relevance to austere environments.
- The review synthesizes information on anatomy, indications, contraindications, procedures, equipment, success rates, complications, and training.
Main Results:
- Battlefield cricothyrotomy has demonstrated successes but also a 33% failure rate.
- Various factors contribute to procedural failures in austere settings.
- Improvised devices and specific training methods are discussed.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing cricothyrotomy procedures, equipment, and training is crucial for improving success rates in austere environments.
- This review provides a framework for enhancing the application of this emergent skill.
- Standardized approaches are needed for prehospital and battlefield surgical airway management.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques
Airway management is essential in emergency and surgical medicine, ensuring ventilation and oxygenation in patients who cannot maintain their own airway. Clinicians use a range of techniques and devices to secure the airway, depending on the patient’s condition and the clinical context. Key methods include endotracheal intubation, rapid sequence intubation (RSI), supraglottic airway devices, and advanced visualization aids. In cases where these approaches fail, surgical airway interventions are...
01:22Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management
Airway management is a key skill in emergency and critical care settings, as maintaining a clear airway is essential for adequate oxygenation and ventilation.Head Tilt-Chin Lift TechniqueThe head tilt-chin lift maneuver is an essential technique primarily used in patients without suspected cervical spine injuries. To perform this maneuver, one hand is placed on the patient’s forehead, and gentle pressure is applied backward to tilt the head. The fingertips of the other hand are positioned under...
01:16Tracheostomy Care I: Pre-procedural Steps
A tracheostomy is a surgical technique that involves making an incision in the neck to provide access to the trachea. It is frequently used in medical conditions such as airway obstruction and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Effective nursing management is crucial for the long-term success of a tracheostomy.
Required Equipment
The equipment necessary for tracheostomy care includes:
Required Equipment
The equipment necessary for tracheostomy care includes:
01:25Tracheostomy Care II: Procedure
Tracheostomy care is an essential nursing skill that involves cleaning and maintaining a tracheostomy tube to prevent infection and other complications. Here's a step-by-step guide explaining each procedure with its rationale. Note that disposable gloves are to be worn at all times and changed as often as needed to maintain a sterile work environment, and to protect both patient and healthcare worker.
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene, and put on personal protective equipment: gown, gloves, mask and...
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene, and put on personal protective equipment: gown, gloves, mask and...
01:26Tracheostomy Suctioning I: Pre-Procedural Steps
Tracheostomy suctioning is a critical procedure healthcare professionals perform to maintain a patent airway in patients with a tracheostomy tube. This procedure is necessary when secretions accumulate in the airway, causing respiratory distress. Here is a step-wise procedural guide for performing tracheostomy suctioning using an open system.
Equipment Required
First, gather all necessary equipment: a sterile suction catheter, a sterile disposable container, sterile gloves, a towel or...
Equipment Required
First, gather all necessary equipment: a sterile suction catheter, a sterile disposable container, sterile gloves, a towel or...
01:23Oxygen Delivering System III: Tracheostomy and T-piece
Oxygen delivery is critical in clinical care, especially for patients with respiratory disorders or those undergoing surgical procedures. Various systems, such as tracheostomy and the T-piece, deliver oxygen to the lungs, ensuring adequate arterial oxygenation.
Tracheostomy
A tracheostomy is a surgically created opening (stoma) in the anterior part of the trachea. It is used to establish a patient airway, bypass an upper airway obstruction, simplify the removal of secretions, permit long-term...
Tracheostomy
A tracheostomy is a surgically created opening (stoma) in the anterior part of the trachea. It is used to establish a patient airway, bypass an upper airway obstruction, simplify the removal of secretions, permit long-term...