Needle cricothyroidotomy

Last modified: 01 February 2023, 3:11:31 PM AEDT
Also1 / 3
  • Emergency cannula cricothyroidotomy
  • "Needle cric"
Points2 / 3
  • Not ideal
  • wrong position / cannula is easily displaced
    • massive surgical emphysema
    • hypoxia
  • small bore
    • oxygenation only
    • does not ventilate lungs, pCO2 builds up
  • Needs O2 source to insufflate
  • Eventual conversion to tracheostomy
    • Merkel kit
Technique3 / 3
  • Needle faces caudally
  • Attach 5mL syringe with water to syringe
  • Insert whilst aspirating
    • bubbles when trachea (with air) is reached