Ultrasound-guided identification of the cricothyroid membrane in a patient with a difficult airway: a case report.

Okano H, Uzawa K, Watanabe K, Motoyasu A, Tokumine J, Lefor AK, Yorozu T

BMC Emerg Med. 2018 Feb 8;18(1):5

BACKGROUND: Surgical cricothyroidotomy is considered to be the last resort for management of the difficult airway. A major point for a successful surgical cricothyroidotomy is to identify the location of the cricothyroid membrane.

CASE PRESENTATION: We encountered a patient with progressive respiratory distress who was anticipated to have a difficult airway due to a large neck abscess. We prepared for both awake intubation and surgical cricothyroidotomy. The cricothyroid membrane could not be identified by palpation, but was readily identified using ultrasound.

CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided identification of the cricothyroid membrane may be  useful in a patient with a difficult airway due to neck swelling.