In cases of partial or complete airway obstruction, the casualty may experience agitation, cyanosis, confusion or even unconsciousness, difficulty breathing (dyspnea), or high-pitched breathing noises such as stridor, wheezing, snoring, or gurgling sounds.
Allow the conscious casualty that is breathing on their own to assume whatever position allows them to breathe most comfortably.
The most common error is making the initial incision too small, thereby limiting the ability to clearly visualize the cricothyroid membrane; identifying the landmarks properly is difficult and commonly leads to incorrect placement; “stabbing” when incising; not inserting a finger, once the membrane has been incised, to manually feel for the lumen and tracheal rings.
Traumatic brain injury; maintain an oxygen saturation >90%