Surgical Airway Interventions
Surgical Airway Interventions - Related Videos
08:20
Basic Life Support Part II: Airway/Breathing and Continued Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
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2023
Source: Julianna Jung, MD, FACEP, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, USA High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation are the most important interventions for patients with cardiac arrest, and should be the first steps that rescuers perform. This is reflected in the American Heart Association's new "CAB" mnemonic. While rescuers were once taught the "ABCs" of cardiac arrest, they now learn "CAB" -...
09:28
COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak: Protecting The Airway - Endotracheal Intubation
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2020
In pandemic times, medical staff is becoming a key resource in fighting the infection. To achieve the best medical care, relevant techniques and procedures have to be taught to medical staff to reduce the risk of infection. COVID patients often need mechanical ventilation due to progredient respiratory insufficiency, so an endotracheal intubation becomes a critical procedure in managing these patients. This procedure has an increased risk of infection due to aerosol formation and working with...
05:43
Topical Airway Anesthesia for Awake-endoscopic Intubation Using the Spray-as-you-go Technique with High Oxygen Flow
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Cited by 11 •
2017
The topical anesthetic lidocaine was atomized using a high oxygen flow through the working channel of a flexible intubating endoscope to achieve topical airway anesthesia for awake endotracheal intubation. We prefer this modified spray-as-you-go technique for endoscopic intubation to classical bolus application because of higher patient satisfaction and better compliance.
01:34
Early Intervention and Pain Management
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2026
All animal procedures described here must be conducted in accordance with institutional animal ethics guidelines and approved by IACUC. All procedures must follow the principles of the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—and must be performed by trained personnel. Monitoring Animals for Signs of Pain and Distress Recognizing early signs of pain is essential for ethical animal research. Animals are routinely monitored using behavioral, physical, and physiological parameters that reflect...
07:08
A Method to Target and Isolate Airway-innervating Sensory Neurons in Mice
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Cited by 9 •
2016
Organ specific sensory neurons are difficult to identify. Fast Blue tracing is used to identify nodose neurons innervating the airways for cell sorting. Sorted nodose neurons are used to extract high quality ribonucleic acid (RNA) for sequencing. Using this protocol, gene expression of airway specific neurons is determined.
FAQs
The principal distinction is the tracheal entry site. Cricothyrotomy uses the cricothyroid membrane, whereas tracheostomy creates access through the tracheal rings. This anatomical difference gives clinicians two established routes for securing the airway, with the choice shaped by the patient’s clinical circumstances, the need for emergency or perioperative support, and whether access is expected to be longer term.
A tube positioned directly in the trachea creates a route that avoids the mouth, nose, and other upper-airway structures. This allows air to reach the lower respiratory tract when normal upper-airway ventilation is obstructed, inadequate, or inaccessible. The same access can support spontaneous oxygenation efforts or provide a connection for mechanical ventilation, depending on the patient’s needs.
These procedures depend on identifying the correct neck structures before entering the trachea. The cricothyroid membrane and tracheal rings provide distinct anatomical targets, so understanding their location guides selection of the access route and helps clinicians apply the intended technique. Because misplaced or poorly planned access can contribute to complications, anatomy and technique are core elements of safe practice.
Clinicians may consider this approach when severe injury, airway obstruction, inadequate ventilation, or an inaccessible normal airway prevents dependable respiratory support. It can also be relevant when a patient requires prolonged ventilatory support and longer-term airway access is needed. The clinical context therefore ranges from urgent airway management to planned support during perioperative or extended care.
At a high level, the procedure requires selecting an appropriate neck entry site, creating access to the trachea, and inserting an airway tube through that opening. Cricothyrotomy targets the cricothyroid membrane, while tracheostomy targets the tracheal rings. The intervention then provides a defined route for airflow and, when needed, mechanical ventilation.
Successful access can restore oxygenation, support mechanical ventilation, and maintain a route for airflow when the upper airway cannot provide adequate access. These outcomes make the procedures relevant to emergency and perioperative care, as well as to patients with severe injury, obstruction, or prolonged ventilatory needs. Safe clinical use requires attention to indications, anatomy, technique, and possible complications.