Cricothyrotomy

<aside> 💡 Cut: vertical through skin, horizontal through cricothyroid membrane

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Indications

• cant intubate, cant oxygenate
• ETT, LMA, or BVM not possible/failed

Contraindications

• <12yo
• open tracheal injury

Procedure

1. Apply required infection control measures
2. Maintain ventilation with bag valve mask or supraglottic airway as best as possible.
3. Prepare the neck with antiseptic solution.
4. With the non-dominant (ND) hand, identify the laryngeal landmarks (thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage and the cricothyroid membrane)
5. Make longitudinal, midline incision at least 8−10 cm in length through skin and subcut tissue