Case report: dealing with a ventilation complication after successful cricothyrotomy.

BACKGROUND

Cricothyrotomy is a rare procedure in the Emergency Department, but necessary in cases where endotracheal intubation has failed and the patient cannot be ventilated. After establishing a cricothyrotomy, ventilation may be difficult, depending on the etiology of the patient's respiratory failure.

OBJECTIVES

This case highlights a successful cricothyrotomy that needed further direct intervention to correct an air leak from the patient's mouth.

CASE REPORT

A novel double-bag technique (DBT), where an Ambu(®) bag (Ambu Inc., Glen Burnie, MD) was connected to the cricothyrotomy catheter and another Ambu bag placed over the mouth and nose, was employed to help solve the post-cricothyrotomy air leak problem.

CONCLUSION

It was only after this DBT technique was initiated that we were able to properly ventilate and oxygenate the patient.