A Retrospective Study of Emergency Tracheotomy

Abstract

Emergency tracheotomies were performed in 22 cases because of dyspnea due to upper airway stenosis. In 15 of those cases, tracheotomies were first tried and successfully performed. With 7 other cases, tracheal intubasions were done prior to their tracheotomies, however, in 2 cases with deep neck abscess, tracheal intubation was impossible because of severe laryngeal edemas. In one case, a percutaneous cricothyroid puncture was successfully performed. We understood that performing a percutaneous cricothyroid puncture was necessary in some cases. Training in various types of airway maintenance techniques and accurately choosing from among them is required for emergent treatment of airway obstruction.