Impaired Ventilation and Oxygenation After Emergency Cricothyrotomy: Recommendations for the Management of Suboptimal Invasive Airway Access.
Invasive airway access by emergent cricothyrotomy remains an essential treatment modality in "can't intubate/can't ventilate" scenarios. Although numerous commercial devices are available, limited comparative data exist with regard to the ventilation and oxygenation parameters of these devices. We report a case of severely compromised respiratory function while using the Quicktrach II, a commercially available emergency cricothyrotomy device. Because of oxygenation and ventilatory insufficiency, our patient required emergent removal of the device and surgical tracheostomy to improve respiratory function. When confronted with a difficult airway, anesthesiologists and surgeons should be aware of commonly encountered cricothyrotomy devices and their potential limitations.
From the *Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; and †Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Matthew A
MA
Warner
Hugh M
HM
Smith
Martin D
MD
Zielinski
D000328:Adult; D058109:Airway Management / Q000379:methods*; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods*