title: Cricoid pressure: ritual or effective measure?
abstract: Cricoid pressure has been long used by clinicians to reduce the risk of aspiration during tracheal intubation. Historically, it is defined by Sellick as temporary occlusion of the upper end of the oesophagus by backward pressure of the cricoid cartilage against the bodies of the cervical vertebrae. The clinical relevance of cricoid pressure has been questioned despite its regular use in clinical practice. In this review, we address some of the controversies related to the use of cricoid pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Main Building 1, Level 3, Singapore.
authors.forename: Nivan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Loganathan
authors.forename: Eugene Hern Choon
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000502:physiology*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011312:Pressure