Synonyms
Definition
Surgical management of the airway involves establishment of a direct opening into a trauma patient’s airway. It is considered the definitive last resort for securing the airway. Tracheotomy traditionally refers to a temporary opening into the airway whereas tracheostomy refers to a permanent one; however, the terms are often used interchangeably. Cricothyrotomy differs from tracheostomy in that it involves a surgical airway through the cricothyroid membrane. Tracheostomy involves establishment of a surgical airway in the cervical trachea below the cricoid ring and can be performed as an open procedure or via percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT).
Preexisting Condition
In the emergency and operating room setting, the need for a surgical airway arises in a patient who cannot be ventilated or intubated (Henderson 2010). Oral intubation remains the method of choice for securing the airway in trauma patients. When this cannot be...
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References
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Eid, I. (2015). Airway Management in Trauma, Tracheostomy. In: Papadakos, P.J., Gestring, M.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Trauma Care. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29613-0_463
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29613-0_463
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