Fat necks: modification of a standard surgical airway protocol in the pre-hospital environmental.
We report two cases of trauma where a surgical airway was required. In both cases soft tissue swelling of the neck made modification of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) airway guidelines necessary. A gum elastic bougie was used to guide a standard endotracheal tube into a cricothyroidotomy incision and secure the airway. Slight departure from standard techniques may be required in difficult circumstances to achieve a definitive airway.
Morris
A
A
Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, Royal London Hospital, UK.
Lockey
D
D
Coats
T
T
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008020:Life Support Care; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D012119:Respiration; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000295:instrumentation