Anatomical information about cricothyroidotomy

What is it about?

Cricothyroidotomies are invasive procedures used for establishing open-airway in emergency conditions. In this research, we investigated anatomical structures located on the cricothyroid membrane. Cricothyroid arteries, the pyramidal lobe of the thyroid gland and common arteries and veins (not mentioned in literature before) were observed on the membrane. In light of the most common locations of these structures on the membrane, lower right quadrant of the membrane is safer for puncture or incision for cricothyroidotomies.

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Why is it important?

Cricothyroidotomies are invasive procedures used in emergency conditions. In order to establish a safer airway access, detailed anatomical knowledge is essential. In this research, we observed that lower right quadrant of the membrane is a comparatively safe area for invasive access because anatomical structures mostly located on the other parts of the membrane. Classically needle or surgical cricothyroidotomies are defined as midline puncture or incision of the membrane. According to our results, cricothyroid vessels were located on the superior half of the membrane in almost all samples, common artery or vein which are formed by cricothyroid vessels were located on the midline and seen in two-thirds of the samples. In some samples, diameters of these common vessels were large (in literature fatal hemorrhages were reported). Also pyramidal lobe of the thyroid gland which highly vascularized was mostly observed on the left half of the membrane. Thus, lower right quadrant of the membrane seems to be a safer area for invasive procedures, especially in terms of hemorrhages.

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