A 45-year-old male sustains a blunt injury to the anterior neck from a steering wheel during an RTC. He develops rapidly progressive subcutaneous emph...

Question

A 45-year-old male sustains a blunt injury to the anterior neck from a steering wheel during an RTC. He develops rapidly progressive subcutaneous emphysema extending from the neck to the chest. His voice is hoarse and he has mild stridor. A surgical airway may be needed. In this specific scenario, why might a standard cricothyroidotomy be complicated?

Accepted Answer

Subcutaneous emphysema distorts the normal neck anatomy and makes palpation of the cricothyroid membrane landmarks extremely difficult - the clinician should identify landmarks before further swelling develops

Answer

The emphysema will spontaneously resolve the airway obstruction

Answer

Subcutaneous emphysema makes the skin too thick to incise

Answer

The emphysema indicates the trachea has already been transected

Answer

Cricothyroidotomy is contraindicated in neck trauma

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Subcutaneous Emphysema - Cricothyroidotomy Difficulty