Links To And Excerpts From “Optimizing Emergent Surgical Cricothyrotomy for use in Austere Environments”

Today I review, link to and excerpt from Optimizing Emergent Surgical Cricothyrotomy for use in Austere Environments. [PubMed Abstract] [Full-Text HTML] [Full-Text PDF]. Wilderness Environ Med. 2013 Mar;24(1):53-66. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2012.07.003. Epub 2012 Oct 10. M Josephine Hessert ¹, Brad L Bennett

There are 160 similar articles in PubMed.

The above resource has been cited by:

• Development of a novel scoring tool to predict the need for early cricothyroidotomy in trauma patients.

  Londoño M, Nahmias J, Dolich M, Lekawa M, Kong A, Schubl S, Inaba K, Grigorian A.Surg Open Sci. 2023 Sep 20;16:58-63. doi: 10.1016/j.sopen.2023.09.017. eCollection 2023 Dec.PMID: 37808420 Free PMC article.

• Prehospital Emergency Cricothyrotomy in Dogs Part 1: Experiences With Commercial Cricothyrotomy Kits.

  Hardjo S, Palmer L, Haworth MD.Front Vet Sci. 2021 Sep 16;8:705695. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.705695. eCollection 2021.PMID: 34604369 Free PMC article.

• Comparison of surgical cricothyroidotomy training: a randomized controlled trial of a swine model versus an animated robotic manikin model.

  Pandian V, Leeper WR, Jones C, Pugh K, Yenokyan G, Bowyer M, Haut ER.Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2020 Apr 26;5(1):e000431. doi: 10.1136/tsaco-2019-000431. eCollection 2020.PMID: 32399492 Free PMC article.

• Out-of-Hospital Surgical Airway Management: Does Scope of Practice Equal Actual Practice?

  Furin M, Kohn M, Overberger R, Jaslow D.West J Emerg Med. 2016 May;17(3):372-6. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2016.3.28729. Epub 2016 May 5.PMID: 27330674 Free PMC article.

• Wilderness medicine.

  Sward DG, Bennett BL.World J Emerg Med. 2014;5(1):5-15. doi: 10.5847/wjem.j.issn.1920-8642.2014.01.001.PMID: 25215140 Free PMC article. Review.

All that follows is from today’s resource.

Abstract

Emergent cricothyrotomy is an infrequently performed procedure used in the direst of circumstances on the most severely injured patients. Austere environments present further unique challenges to effective emergency medical practice. Recently, military trauma registry data were searched for the frequency of cricothyrotomy use and success rates during a 22-month period. These data revealed that cricothyrotomy performed in the most rigorous austere environment (ie, battlefield) had many successes, but also a large number of failed (33%) attempts by medics owing to many factors. Thus, the aim of this review article is to present what is known about cricothyrotomy and apply this knowledge to any austere environment for qualified providers. The National Library of Medicine’s PubMed was used to conduct a thorough search using the terms “prehospital,” “cricothyroidotomy,” “cricothyrotomy,” and “surgical airway.” The findings were further narrowed by applicability to the austere environment. This review presents relevant airway anatomy, incidences, indications, contraindications, procedures, and equipment, including improvised devices, success rates, complications, and training methods. Recommendations are proffered for ways to optimize procedures, equipment, and training for successful application of this emergent skill set in the austere environment.

More coming later today.