Ultrasound-Guided, Bougie-Assisted Cricothyrotomy Successful in Cadavers

This novel technique may be useful in emergency department patients.

These authors describe use of an ultrasound-guided, bougie-assisted technique to identify the cricothyroid membrane and perform surgical cricothyrotomy in cadavers. Two emergency medicine physicians (one attending physician with ultrasound training and one resident) each performed the procedure in 21 cadavers (body-mass index, 12.2 to 44.9 kg/m²).

Using the linear ultrasound probe oriented in a longitudinal direction, the operators identified the cricothyroid membrane in a median of 3.6 seconds. After making a surgical incision of the membrane with a scalpel, operators inserted a bougie and passed a size 6 endotracheal tube over the bougie. Median time to completed cricothyrotomy was 26.2 seconds. Dissection revealed that all tubes were plac…

Reviewing Author

Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardSecurisyn

Editorial boardsThe Merck Manuals (Home and Physician Editions)

Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardSecurisyn

Editorial boardsThe Merck Manuals (Home and Physician Editions)