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Emergency airway puncture	Cricoid cartilage	Emergency airway puncture - series

Emergency airway puncture

Definition

Emergency airway puncture is an emergency insertion of a hollow needle into the airway (larynx). It is used to treat life-threatening choking.

Alternative Names

Needle cricothyrotomy

Description

In an emergency situation, when someone is choking and all other efforts to assist with breathing have failed, a hollow needle can be inserted into the throat, just below the Adam's apple (cricoid cartilage). In hospital settings, a small skin incision may be made before inserting the needle or tube.

Why the Procedure is Performed

A cricothyrotomy is recommended as an emergency procedure to relieve an airway obstruction until surgical placement of a breathing tube (tracheostomy) can be done.

Recovery

See: Tracheostomy

Outlook (Prognosis)

Emergency airway puncture (cricothyrotomy) can be quite effective in relieving an airway obstruction.

Risks

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Additional risks include trauma to the larynx, thyroid gland, or esophagus.

Review Date: 7/25/2007
Reviewed By: James L. Demetroulakos, M.D., F.A.C.S., Department of Otolaryngology, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA. Clinical Instructor in Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.