Surgical cricothyrotomy performed by air ambulance flight nurses: a 5-year experience.
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.
Boyle
M F
MF
Wright State University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Dayton, Ohio.
Hatton
D
D
Sheets
C
C
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