Frequency of Cricothyroidotomy Incidence

The podcast delves into the evolving incidence of cricothyroidotomy, particularly in failed airway scenarios. Data from the American Journal of Emergency Medicine is discussed, indicating a current incidence of 0.3% to 1.1% for rescue airways post-tracheal intubations. A study within the NEAR dataset from 2016 to 2018 showcases that out of 17,720 intubation attempts, 49 necessitated surgical airways, equating to 2.8 cases per thousand or 0.28%. This illustrates the importance of maintaining readiness for rare procedures despite advancements in airway management technology.