Emergency surgical cricothyroidotomy in blunt neck trauma as a bridge to a definitive airway: A case report

Blunt laryngo-tracheal injuries are rare but potentially fatal, with airway compromise being the most immediate and life-threatening issue, making early recognition and rapid action essential. Here we report a case of a 19-year-old male who sustained high-velocity blunt trauma to the neck and presented with a severely threatened airway, which was initially secured by an emergency cricothyroidotomy, which served as a temporary bridge, and later managed definitively with surgical tracheostomy. This case highlights the importance of timely emergency airway management in blunt neck trauma and the significant challenges faced by anesthesiologists when no feasible backup airway plan exists in such critical situations.