title: Emergency percutaneous dilatational cricothyroidostomy: use of modified nasal speculum.
abstract: The authors devised a percutaneous dilatational method which they believe trained physicians and nonphysicians (emergency medical technicians and paramedics) can use with safety and speed. With one blade of a modified nasal speculum embedded in a tapered small pigtail-dilator catheter, the closed, flattened instrument is forced through the cricothyroid ligament, with a twisting motion, and then opened. Only the skin is incised 1 cm in length. Then a free flow of air via attached syringe is sought before any further penetration. This guarantees accurate and safe entry into the airway. The operator forces the J-tipped dilator and speculum inward as the needle is withdrawn. At the proper depth the speculum is opened transversely, and a cuffed tracheostomy tube with an internal diameter of 6 mm is inserted. The instrument is removed and immediate suctioning and active ventilation is possible. The authors developed the use of this instrument in trials on a mannequin and on 25 cadavers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, St Elizabeth Hospital, Utica, NY.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciaglia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Graniero
mesh_terms: D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D004106:Dilatation; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D014140:Tracheotomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*