Annals of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of 2 cricothyrotomy techniques: standard method versus rapid 4-step technique.
To compare the success rate, complication rate and time required for the rapid 4-step technique versus the standard technique for cricothyrotomy. ⋯ In a group of inexperienced subjects working on a preserved human cadaver model, the rapid 4-step technique for cricothyrotomy was performed in about one third the time required for performance of the standard technique. This finding was both clinically and statistically significant. Although the 2 techniques had similar success and complication rates, we noted a trend toward more severe complications in the rapid 4-step technique.