Videos
These DAS videos demonstrate emergency scalpel-bougie cricothyroidotomy performed in real time.
Select play to watch the videos. Captions can be turned on and off with the CC icon.
As you can see it can be done very quickly if required (although a vertical incision may take significantly longer).
It is useful to rehearse this practical procedure yourself, in real time, with the equipment you will use in your areas of work. Next time you are at work, check your airway trolley to ensure all of the essential items of equipment are present!
Think about:
- Where the equipment is
- Who you will call for help and how you will do this
- Where you will stand
Fig 1 Palpable cricothyroid membrane
Fig 2 Unidentifiable cricothyroid membrane
| Stage | Cricothyroidotomy | Say | Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can't intubate after 3 attempts* | Ready | Declare "failed intubation" | Get the surgical FONA equipment |
| Failed SAD placement or failed FMV after 3 attempts* | Set | Declare "CICO" | Open the FONA equipment after one failed attempt each with FMV and SAD |
| CICO | Go | Emergency FONA | Perform scalpel-bougie cricothyroidotomy |
Table 1 Preparing and performing emergency cricothyroidotomy
*You don't need to have all 3 attempts. It might become clear after 1 attempt that you need to move to FONA.