Pre-morbid Commonalities Among Patients Undergoing Emergent Cricothyrotomy at a Tertiary Care Level 1 Trauma Center: Categorizing Our Experience

Patients with limited respiratory reserve capacity, such as in COPD and asthma, as well as those with distorted airway anatomy secondary to malignancy, radiation fibrosis, or post-surgical changes, are at higher risk for failed intubation attempts leading to eventual cricothyrotomy. The early recognition of risk factors may lead to improved airway management planning, which, in some cases, may mitigate the need for emergent cricothyrotomy.