Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Practice Exam

When is an emergency cricothyroidotomy indicated?

1. When routine intubation is successful

2. When a patient can be ventilated normally

3. When a patient cannot be ventilated or intubated

4. During routine surgical procedures

The correct answer is: When a patient cannot be ventilated or intubated

An emergency cricothyroidotomy is indicated in situations where a patient cannot be ventilated or intubated due to a variety of reasons, such as obstructed airways, facial trauma, severe swelling, or other conditions that prevent standard airway management. In these scenarios, immediate intervention is crucial to restore airflow. This procedure involves making an incision through the skin over the cricothyroid membrane and inserting a tube directly into the airway, allowing for ventilation when other measures have failed. It represents a critical lifesaving maneuver in emergencies where maintaining airway patency is vital for the patient’s survival. The other scenarios described do not warrant the need for such an invasive procedure. For instance, if routine intubation is successful, there is no immediate need for a cricothyroidotomy; if a patient can be ventilated normally, the airway is secure, and again a cricothyroidotomy is unnecessary; and during routine surgical procedures, standard anesthesia techniques are used unless complications arise that necessitate a different approach.