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Emergency airway puncture
Definition
Emergency airway puncture is the placement of a hollow needle through the throat into the airway. It is done to treat life-threatening choking.
Alternative Names
Needle cricothyrotomy
Description
Emergency airway puncture is done in an emergency situation, when someone is choking and all other efforts to assist with breathing have failed.
- A hollow needle or tube can be inserted into the throat, just below the Adam's apple (cricoid cartilage), into the airway.
- In a hospital, a small cut in the skin is made before inserting the needle.
Why the Procedure Is Performed
A cricothyrotomy is an emergency procedure to relieve an airway obstruction until surgery can be done to place a breathing tube (tracheostomy).
Risks
Risks for this procedure include:
- Injury to the voice box (larynx), thyroid gland, or esophagus
Risks for any surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
Outlook (Prognosis)
How well the person does depends on the cause of the airway blockage and how quickly the person receives proper breathing support.
See: Tracheostomy
References
Hebert RB, Bose S, Mace SE. Cricothyrotomy and transtracheal jet ventilation. In: Roberts JR, Hedges JR, eds. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 6.
Thomas SH, Brown DFM. Foreign bodies. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009: chap 57.
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
