percutaneous transtracheal ventilation

percutaneous transtracheal ventilation

an emergency procedure that delivers oxygen under sufficient pressure through a cricothyrotomy to sustain a patient's oxygenation temporarily until a definitive surgical airway can be established. This procedure is by definition palliative because of the suboptimal lumen of the ventilatory tube (an intravenous catheter) and requires 50 psi of pressure at the source of oxygen delivery.
See also: needle, cricothyrotomy.

nee·dle cri·co·thy·rot·o·my

(nē'dĕl krī'kō-thī-rot'ŏ-mē)

Cricothyrotomy performed by passing a large-bore needle percutaneously through the cricothyroid membrane into the trachea. Used as an emergency airway procedure when surgical cricothyrotomy is not possible.
Synonym(s): percutaneous transtracheal ventilation.

percutaneous transtracheal ventilation

An emergency, life-saving means of providing an oxygen supply using a 16 gauge plastic catheter sheathed needle and positive pressure ventilation. The catheter needle is passed directly through the skin in the middle of the front of the neck until the catheter is in the windpipe. The needle is then withdrawn and the positive pressure machine connected to the catheter.