Needle Cricothyridotomy - Underpinning Knowledge

• last ditch effort to achieve ventillation for an obstructed airway above the larynx which cannot be cleared via the mouth of by ventillating the obstruction down into the bronchial tree.
• Maxillo-facial trauma - deformed anatomy.
• Anaphylaxis
• Burns
• Upper Airway FBAO
• Trismus
• Laryngeal Spasm

In the emergency situation when all other options have failed, there are no contra-indications

• Infection
• Hypercapnia because of insufficent CO2 ventillation + hypoxia.
• Subcutaneous Emphysema - Creation of a false passage into the surrounding tissue.
• Haematomoa & Bleeding from the site of insertion.
• Aspiration from blood & secretions
• Oesophyarngeal perforation
• Time constraints - 45 Minutes max until surgical airway required.