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Rapid sequence intubation and availability of advanced airway devices make the need for emergent cricothyrotomy relatively rare. As a result, providers might be uncomfortable performing surgical cricothyrotomy when the infrequent occasion arises. In this study, 21 medical students and residents were randomized to perform cricothyrotomy on anesthetized sheep with either the standard no-drop surgical technique or a bougie-assisted technique. Training in both techniques consisted of a video demonstration.
The bougie-assisted technique is a modification of the rapid four-step technique (RFST). It involves making a transverse incision through the skin and cricoid membrane with a 20-blade scalpel; using a tracheal hook to grasp the inferior margin…