• Title/Summary/Keyword: Cricothyrotomy

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Clinically Correlated Anatomical Basis of Cricothyrotomy and Tracheostomy

  • Gulsen, Salih;Unal, Melih;Dinc, Ahmet Hakan;Altinors, Nur
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.47 no.3
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    • pp.174-179
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    • 2010
  • Objective : Cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy are performed by physicians in various disciplines. It is important to know the comprehensive anatomy of the laryngotracheal region. Hemorrhage, esophageal injury, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, pneumothorax, hemothorax, false passage of the tube and tracheal stenosis after decannulation are well known complications of the cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy. Cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy should be performed without complications and as quickly as possible with regards the patients' clinical condition. Methods : A total of 40 cadaver necks were dissected in this study. The trachea and larynx and the relationship between the trachea and larynx and the surrounding structures was investigated. The tracheal cartilages and annular ligaments were counted and the relationship between tracheal cartilages and the thyroid gland and vascular structures was investigated. We performed cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy in eleven cadavers while simulating intensive care unit conditions to determine the duration of those procedures. Results : There were 11 tracheal cartilages and 10 annular ligaments between the cricoid cartilage and sternal notch. The average length of trachea between the cricoid cartilage and the suprasternal notch was 6.9 to 8.2 cm. The cricothyroid muscle and cricothyroid ligament were observed and dissected and no vital anatomic structure detected. The average length and width of the cricothyroid ligament was 8 to 12 mm and 8 to 10 mm, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the surgical time required for cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy (p < 0.0001). Conclusion : Tracheostomy and cricothyrotomy have a low complication rate if the person performing the procedure has thorough knowledge of the neck anatomy. The choice of tracheostomy or cricothyrotomy to establish an airway depends on the patients' clinical condition, for instance; cricothyrotomy should be preferred in patients with cervicothoracal injury or dislocation who suffer from respiratory dysfunction. Furthermore; if a patient is under risk of hypoxia or anoxia due to a difficult airway, cricothyrotomy should be preferred rather than tracheostomy.

Task Analysis of Paramedics of Korea Based on DACUM Method (DACUM 기법에 의한 1급 응급구조사의 직무분석)

  • Bae, Ki-Sook;Koh, Bong-Yeun;Lee, Jung-Eun;Lee, In-Mo;Choi, Keun-Myoung;Kim, Soo-Tae
    • The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.5-23
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    • 2011
  • Objective : This study grasps specific task on paramedics who plays a great role in the emergency scene, thereby eliciting definition of job called paramedics and analyzing occupation by DACUM method. Thus, the aim is to suggest working-level guidelines on the task of paramedics. Methods : It targeted paramedics who are working at hospitals, fire stations, and industries in Seoul and Gyeonggi area from Oct. 11, 2010 to Nov. 30. A total of 608 copies of questionnaire were analyzed by DACUM method. A research tool on occupational analysis consisted of 8 pieces for duty, 43 pieces for task, and 149 pieces for task elements. In order to survey performance frequency, importance, and difficulty by element, each task was developed by this research team, and each task was analyzed and finally elicited through workshop of DACUM method. Results : The occupational definition of paramedics, which was defined through this DACUM, was elicited as 'professional job of performing emergency medical care on the scene, during transferring, or within medical institution in order to maintain life and prevent wound deterioration, targeting a person who is put in emergency situation.' Task element, whose performance frequency was indicated to be the highest, was in order of checking mental status($2.76{\pm}0.497$), checking vital signs($2.70{\pm}0.578$), and airway/c-spine immobilization($2.69{\pm}.546$). Especially, defibrillation stood at $2.23{\pm}.655$ points. Task element, whose performance frequency was low, was in order of caring sexual abuse victims($1.32{\pm}0.563$), performing cricothyrotomy($1.36{\pm}0.618$), and caring cardiac arrest victims($1.40{\pm}0.636$). Importance of task was in order of airway/c-spine immobilization ($2.88{\pm}0.338$), maintenance of respiration($2.88{\pm}0.351$), caring cardiac arrest victims($2.87{\pm}0.349$), and performing CPR($2.87{\pm}0.361$). Task element, whose importance is low, was indicated to be in order of enema($2.29{\pm}0.736$), urinary catheterization($2.35{\pm}0.664$), and nasogastric intubation($2.35{\pm}0.667$). Task element, whose difficulty was shown to be the highest, was indicated to be in order of caring cardiac arrest victims during pregnancy ($2.60{\pm}0.559$), caring cardiovascular injury($2.59{\pm}0.546$), and labor management($2.53{\pm}0.533$). Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, the job performance work table(Dacom chart) of paramedics is suggested to be used, thereby being applied to development in education and curriculum of paramedics. It is necessary to evaluate usefulness of the job performance work table by estimating effect of education for paramedics based on the job performance work table of paramedics.