Emergency airway management must be mastered by medical professionals. Methods of airway management include endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy, and cricothyroidotomy. Of these, cricothyroidotomy is the quickest to apply in an emergency. This article describes cricothyroidotomy as a method of managing airway emergencies. The most important aspect to ensure safe and successful cricothyroidotomy is to approach the anatomically correct location of the cricothyroid membrane. Anyone who is not confident should participate in a hands-on emergency airway management session.
