Emergency airway puncture (Needle cricothyrotomy)

AllRefer Channels :: Yellow Pages | Reference | Health

	Diet & Nutrition
	Diseases & Conditions
	Injuries & Wounds
	Poisons & Overdoses
	Surgery & Procedures
	Symptoms Guide
	Special Topics
	Tests & Exams
	Pictures & Images
	Medical Encyclopedia

You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Surgery & Procedures > Emergency airway puncture

Emergency airway puncture

Alternate Names : Needle cricothyrotomy

Definition

Emergency airway puncture is insertion of a hollow needle into the airway done to treat life-threatening choking.

Overview & Description

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

In a hospital setting, a small cut in the skin is made before inserting the needle.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

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

Pictures & Images

Emergency airway puncture

Cricoid cartilage

Emergency airway puncture - series
Emergency airway puncture - series

See all Pictures & Images

Quick Jump
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Next
After the Procedure

Jump To Another Page

Emergency airway puncture : Definition
Emergency airway puncture : Overview & Description
Emergency airway puncture : Why the Procedure Is Performed
Emergency airway puncture : After the Procedure
Emergency airway puncture : Prognosis
Emergency airway puncture : Risks
Emergency airway puncture : References
Emergency airway puncture : Pictures & Images
Emergency airway puncture
Cricoid cartilage
Emergency airway puncture - series
Normal anatomy
Indications
Incision
Procedure
Aftercare

Review Date : 7/19/2009
Reviewed By : Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Main Page of Emergency airway puncture

Featured Topics
•	Allergies
•	Breast Cancer
•	Depression
•	Diabetes
•	High Blood Pressure
•	Weight Management

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial reviewers. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
Copyright © 2011 AllRefer.com All Rights reserved.
Health Topics: 0-9 A-AID Air-Aor Aor-Azo B-Blo Blo-Bys C-Cha Cha-Col Col-CSF CSF-Cyt D-Dis Dis-Dys E-Ess Est-Eye F-FSP FTA-Fus G H-Her Her-Hys I-Iod Ion-Ivy J K L-Luc Lud-Lym M-Min Min-Myx N O P-Pes Pes-Pre Pre-Pyr Q R-Rig Rig-RVA s-SID SID-Spu Spu-Sys T-Too Too-Typ U V W X Y Z
About Us | Help | Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy | Advertising Policy | Accessibility | Terms of Use
Contact Us | Link to Us | User Satisfaction Survey | Healthopedia.com
Page Last Updated: 12 Feb, 2012