Needle cricothyrotomy
A needle cricothoracotomy is an emergency medical procedure for opening a victim's airway. It is performed by qualified paramedics and emergency room physicians. Its use by emergency medical technicians is governed by specific protocols. If attempts at intubation are unsuccessful due to excessive swelling, physical blockage from an object or severe neck trauma, the patient will die within minutes from lack of oxygen. In such a life-and-death situation, a properly equipped medical professional may attempt to insert a thin hollow needle into the neck, opening a passage between the trachea and the outside air. This tube is then typically connected to high-pressure oxygen. The procedure is fraught with potential complications, including those which can cause immediate death (such as piercing the carotid artery) and should never under any circumstances be attempted by a person who has not been trained in the procedure. Paramedics are trained to check for unrecognized esophageal intubation before attempting this procedure. In some cases, needle cricothoracotomy may buy time for life-saving medications such as epinephrine to take full effect. In training, doctors and paramedics use special mannequin trainers with replaceable cut-away sections to learn this technique without endangering the lives of patients.
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