Medical Encyclopedia

Medical Encyclopedia

Emergency airway puncture - series: Incision

 Incision

Emergency airway puncture - series
Illustrations:

  • Normal anatomy
  • Indications
  • Incision
  • Procedure
  • Aftercare

    • If the situation is acute, a hollow needle is inserted into the throat, just below the Adam's apple (thyroid cartilage). This is called a needle cricothyrotomy. More frequently, a small incision is made in the skin over the cricothyroid membrane, and another incision is made through the membrane between the cricoid and thyroid cartilage.

    Update Date: 7/25/2007

    Updated 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.

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