Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T03:18:26.858Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brantigan, C. O., Grow, J. B. (1976) Cricothyroidotomy: Elective use in respiratory problems requiring tracheotomy. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 71: 7281.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Caparosa, R. J., Zavatsky, A. R. (1957) Practical aspects of the cricothyroid space. Laryngoscope 67: 577579.Google Scholar
Esses, B. A., Jafek, B. W. (1987) Cricothyroidotomy: A decade of experience in Denver. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 96: 519524.Google Scholar
Jackson, C. (1921) High tracheostomy and other errors, the chief cause of chronic laryngeal stenosis. Surgery Gynecology Obstetrics 32: 392398.Google Scholar
Kress, T. D., Balasbramanian, S. (1982) Cricothyroidotomy. Annals of Emergency Medicine 11: 197201.Google Scholar
Mace, S. E. (1988) Cricothyrotomy. Journal of Emergency Medicine 6: 309319.Google Scholar
McGill, J., Clinton, J. E., Ruiz, E. (1982) Cricothyrotomy in the emergency department. Annals of Emergency Medicine 11: 7: 361364.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Melker, R. J., Florete, O. G. Jr. (1995) Cricothyrotomy: Review and Debate. Anesthesiology Clinics of North America 13: 565583.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roven, A. N., Clapham, M. C. (1983) Cricothyroidotomy. Ear, Nose and Throat Journal 62: 489493.Google Scholar
Sise, M. J., Shackford, S. R., Cruickshank, J. C., Murphy, G., Fridlund, P. H. (1984) Cricothyroidotomy for long-term tracheal access. A prospective analysis of morbidity and mortality in 76 patients. Annals of Surgery 200: 1317.Google Scholar
Walls, R. M. (1988) Cricothyroidotomy. Emergency Clinics of North America 6: 725736.Google Scholar