CRICOTHYROIDOTOMY

Operative Technique

Patient supine

Folded sheet placed under shoulders

Neck extended

Asepsis and antisepsis

Sterile drapes placed

Cricothyroid space accurately located

Line of incision infiltrated with local anesthesia (lidocaine)

Transverse incision made in the cricothyroid space carried from skin down to the cricothyroid membrane

Bleeders suture ligated

Stab incision made on cricothyroid membrane

Stab wound enlarged, spreading the tissues transversely until the opening is sufficient enough to insert a low-pressure cuff tracheostomy tube

Tube fixed in place

Sterile dressing