Randomized controlled trial comparing an open surgical technique and a Seldinger technique for cricothyrotomy performed on a simulated airway.

OBJECTIVES: Emergency cricothyrotomy is a lifesaving procedure performed when intubation fails and oxygenation cannot occur. There are multiple techniques and kits to perform this procedure. However, current evidence does not provide a definitive answer as to which method is superior. Two techniques in common use are a surgical technique and a percutaneous Seldinger-based cricothyrotomy kit. The objective was to determine which of these two methods was quickest to perform and to determine which was most preferred by participants.

METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted involving emergency physicians and trainees. Each participant performed both cricothyrotomy techniques in succession on an airway model, with the technique performed first being randomized for each participant. The primary outcome was time to first insufflation of the artificial lung. A survey was completed by participants asking their comfort with each technique on a 5-point scale from 1 (not at all comfortable) to 5 (very comfortable) and which technique they preferred.

RESULTS: Twenty-one emergency physicians and nine emergency medicine trainees were recruited. The surgical technique was performed the fastest, with a mean (±SD) time of 51.6 (±16.3) s versus 66.6 (±14.9) s for the Seldinger technique, with a statistically significant difference of 15.0 s (95% confidence interval = 8.5 to 21.5, p  < 0.001). The surgical technique was rated the most comfortable to perform, with a median rating of 5 (interquartile range [IQR] = 4-5) versus 4 (IQR = 3-5) for the Seldinger technique. The surgical technique was most preferred by participants (80% vs 20%).

CONCLUSION: The surgical technique was the fastest to perform and was rated the most comfortable to perform and the most preferred technique.