title: Surgical cricothyrotomy performed by air ambulance flight nurses: a 5-year experience.
abstract: Limited information exists in the current medical literature regarding the performance of surgical cricothyrotomy by flight nurse personnel. We undertook a retrospective review of all flight records from our regional air ambulance service. The flight team transported 2,188 patients during this time; 69 patients required surgical cricothyrotomy for airway access. In all cases, the procedure was performed by a flight nurse working under a predefined airway protocol. Indications for the procedure were predominantly for maxillofacial trauma. A secure airway was established in 98.5% of the cases (68/69). Acute complications involved hemorrhage (3) and placement (3) with a complication rate of 8.7%. We conclude that surgical cricothyrotomy can be performed by well-trained flight nurses with a high success rate and an acceptable complication rate.
authors.affiliation: Wright State University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Dayton, Ohio.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hatton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sheets
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000401:Aircraft; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000451:nursing* / Q000601:surgery*; D000552:Ambulances; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies