Cannula Cricothyroidotomy

In response to a great Twitter discussion with PHARM‘s @ketaminh:

See Minh le Cong’s PHARM blog post, video and podcast here.  Please note that using a BVM is not the advised technique of oxygenation, but is used here because we don’t have an oxygen source in the skills lab.

Lots of ensuing discussion of the ideal angle of puncture of the cricothyroid membrane.  90 degrees (perpendicular to skin) has least risk of puncturing posterior wall of the trachea, but greatest risk of cannula kinking.  I advocate around 60 degrees for puncture and then decreasing angle to advance cannula: