An emergency surgical procedure that creates an opening through the cricothyroid membrane in the neck to establish an airway when normal intubation is impossible. This life-saving technique provides direct access to the trachea below an obstruction.
From Greek 'krikos' meaning 'ring' + 'thyros' meaning 'shield' (referring to the thyroid cartilage) + 'tome' meaning 'cut.' The procedure targets the cricothyroid membrane, a small space between two cartilages in the neck, accessible for emergency airway access.
Cricothyrotomy can be performed with a simple ballpoint pen in extreme emergencies! The cricothyroid membrane is only about the size of a dime, but it's the only part of the airway that's close enough to the skin surface to reach quickly when someone's airway is completely blocked.
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