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Emergency airway puncture

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Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Emergency airway puncture
Emergency airway puncture
Cricoid cartilage
Cricoid cartilage
Emergency airway puncture - series
Emergency airway puncture - series

Alternative Names    Return to top

Needle cricothyrotomy

Definition    Return to top

Emergency airway puncture is an emergency insertion of a hollow needle into the airway (larynx). It is used to treat life-threatening choking.

Description    Return to top

In an emergency situation, when someone is choking and all other efforts to assist with breathing have failed, a hollow needle can be inserted into the throat, just below the Adam's apple (cricoid cartilage). In hospital settings, a small skin incision may be made before inserting the needle or tube.

Why the Procedure is Performed    Return to top

A cricothyrotomy is recommended as an emergency procedure to relieve an airway obstruction until surgical placement of a breathing tube (tracheostomy) can be done.

Risks    Return to top

Risks for any surgery are:

Additional risks include trauma to the larynx, thyroid gland, or esophagus.

Outlook (Prognosis)    Return to top

Emergency airway puncture (cricothyrotomy) can be quite effective in relieving an airway obstruction.

Recovery    Return to top

See: Tracheostomy

References    Return to top

Marx J. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006.

Roberts JR, Hedges JR. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2004.

Update Date: 7/25/2007

Updated by: James L. Demetroulakos, M.D., F.A.C.S., Department of Otolaryngology, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA. Clinical Instructor in Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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