Definition of Emergency airway puncture:

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

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).

Risks:

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Additional risks include trauma to the voice box (larynx), thyroid gland, and esophagus, and perforation (tearing) of the lungs and other body parts in the chest, leading to a collapsed lung and air collecting around the heart.

After the Procedure:

Emergency airway puncture (cricothyrotomy) can be quite effective in temporarily relieving an airway obstruction, but it must quickly be replaced by a more effective means of ventilation.

Outlook (Prognosis):

What happens will depend on the cause of the airway obstruction and how quickly the person receives a better means of ventilation.

See: Tracheostomy