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The first 25 slides, exactly as they appear. The full deck has 44 content slides.
Neuro Critical Care
12 Cricothyrotomy
Built from Jallo — Neurocritical Care Procedure Atlas
What’s inside
7 sections · 44 slides
Overview
- What is a cricothyrotomy?
- How this deck is organized
Relevant Anatomy and Physiology
Feel your way to the cricothyroid membrane
- Midline landmarks you can feel
- Finding the cricothyroid membrane
- Neck surface landmarks
- Lateral profile of neck surface anatomy
- The thin layers you cut through
- Transverse section of the neck at C5
- Subcutaneous structures of the neck
- Subfascial structures of the neck
- When the landmarks are hard to feel
Indications and Contraindications
The rescue of last resort
- When cricothyrotomy is indicated
- Contraindications and safer alternatives
Equipment
A scalpel and a tube will do
- The essentials versus the full tray
- The rest of the airway kit
Technique
Preparation, medications, positioning, and the cut
- Preparation and medications
- Positioning and set-up
- Making the incision
- Vertical midline skin incision
- Exposure of the deep cervical fascia
- Exposure of the cricothyroid membrane
- Entering the airway
- Spreading the cricothyroid membrane
- Securing and confirming the airway
- Insertion of the endotracheal tube
- Finishing up
Complications
Emergent cricothyrotomy carries a 15% risk
- Acute complications
- Delayed complications
- Tracheal-innominate fistula: recognize it
- Tracheal-innominate fistula: manage it
- Temporizing maneuvers for the fistula
- Little Dutch Boy maneuver
Expert Suggestions
Habits that decide the outcome
- Three rules that keep it safe
- Numbers worth remembering
- Key takeaways
- References
- Neuro ICU Procedure Atlas