title: A case of cricothyroidotomy for facial trauma in a patient taking antiplatelet agents after a simple ground-level fall.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cricothyroidotomy is an emergency procedure that can be used to secure the airway in situations in which intubation and ventilation are not possible.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a case of 79-year-old male presenting with facial trauma combined with massive upper airway bleeding and swelling in which cricothyroidotomy was required to open the airway in an elderly male patient taking antiplatelet agents who suffered a simple ground-level fall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although emergency airway management is often required in patients with Le Fort fractures, mandibular condyle fractures exhibit a significant relationship with ground-level falls, which are not usually associated with emergency airway management. Prophylactic intubation should be considered prior to transfer or deterioration in a trauma patient with dual antiplatelet drugs and fractures of bilateral mandibular condyle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should be aware of the life-threatening injuries that can be caused by simple ground-level falls in patients taking antiplatelet agents.
authors: Advanced Emergency and Critical Care Medical Center, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Kita-ku, Shikata-cho, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. Electronic address: tyumoto@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Yumoto
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Kita-ku, Shikata-cho, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. Electronic address: tatsushi@md.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors: Tatsushi
authors: T
authors: Matsumura
authors: Advanced Emergency and Critical Care Medical Center, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Kita-ku, Shikata-cho, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. Electronic address: hei.trp@gmail.com.
authors: Kohei
authors: K
authors: Tsukahara
authors: Advanced Emergency and Critical Care Medical Center, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Kita-ku, Shikata-cho, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. Electronic address: ksato2501@yahoo.co.jp.
authors: Keiji
authors: K
authors: Sato
authors: Advanced Emergency and Critical Care Medical Center, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Kita-ku, Shikata-cho, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. Electronic address: ugawat@gmail.com.
authors: Toyomu
authors: T
authors: Ugawa
authors: Department of Acute Care and Primary Care Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital, 577, Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan. Electronic address: ujike@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp.
authors: Yoshihito
authors: Y
authors: Ujike
keywords: Antiplatelet drugs; Emergency airway; Geriatric trauma; Ground-level fall