cricothyrotomy /cri·co·thy·rot·o·my/ (-thi-rot´ah-me) incision through the skin and cricothyroid membrane to secure a patent airway for emergency relief of upper airway obstruction.
cricothyrotomy
cricothyrotomy [kri″ko-thi-rot´ah-me]
cri·co·thy·rot·o·my (kr  k -th-r t  -m )n. Incision through the skin and the cricothyroid membrane for emergency relief of upper respiratory obstruction. Also called intercricothyrotomy. |
cricothyrotomy
[krī′kōthīrot′əmē]
Etymology: Gk, krikos + thyreos, shield, eidos, form, temnein, to cut
an emergency incision into the larynx, performed to open the airway in a person who is choking. A small vertical midline cut is made just below the thyroid cartilage and above the cricoid cartilage. The incision is opened farther with a transverse cut through the cricothyroid membrane, and the wound is spread open with a knife handle or other dilator. The new opening must be held open with a tracheostomy tube that is open at both ends to allow air to move in and out. The cartridge end of a ballpoint pen will suffice in an emergency until a tracheostomy can be done. Compare tracheostomy.
cricothyrotomy [kri″ko-thi-rot´ah-me]
incision through the skin and cricothyroid membrane to secure a patent airway for emergency relief of upper airway obstruction. Called also intercricothyrotomy. 
Cricothyrotomy. From Zuidema et al., 1985.
cricothyrotomy (krī´kōthīrot´
mē),n an incision between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages for the purpose of maintaining a patent airway.
cricothyrotomy
incision through the skin and cricothyroid membrane to secure a patent airway for emergency relief of upper airway obstruction.
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