Accuracy of Palpation for Cricothyroidotomy
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Abstract
Cricothyroidotomy is a practical procedure that is critical for patients in the context of emergency. Accurately identify the cricothyroid membrane takes a crucial part in determining the success of cricothyroidotomy. However, it is not that easy for clinicians when facing patients with different conditions that limit the palpation accuracy. Obesity is a risk factor for the failure of cricothyroidotomy. Special care is needed for obese patients. We herein build a mathematic model to explain why it is hard for obese patients to be palpated, and we also give recommendations based on the model on how to increase the rate of the palpation accuracy.
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Cricothyroid Membrane, Obesity, Cricothyroidotomy, Emergency, Mathematic Model
This work is supported by the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (NSFC, 30901397, 81271242); Nanjing Medical University Grant for Science & Technology Development (08NMUZ033); Nanjing Municipal Young Scientist Grant (201208009); and Nanjing Municipal Developmental Key Grant of Medical Science (ZKX10018).
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