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Cricothyroidotomy and the anatomy of the cricothyroid space. An autopsy study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

P. Goumas
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Patras, Medical School. Greece
K. Kokkinis
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Patras, Medical School. Greece
J. Petrocheilos
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Patras, Medical School. Greece
S. Naxakis
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Patras, Medical School. Greece
G. Mochloulis*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: G. Mochloulis, Department of Otolaryngology, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2 1NY. Fax: 0171 7251847

Abstract

Airway management is one of the main dictums in anaesthesia, emergency medicine and critical care. Endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy and cricothyroidotomy are all approved methods to secure a patient's airway. Cricothyroidotomy is performed in the space between the anterior inferior border of the thyroid cartilage and the anterior superior border of the cricoid cartilage. We studied 107 autopsies with special interest in the anatomy of the cricothyroid space.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

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