Cric in the Dark: Surgical Cricothyrotomy in Low Light Tactical Environments

Description

Cric in the Dark: Surgical Cricothyrotomy in Low Light Tactical Environments
Getz C, Stuart SM, Barbour BM, Verga JM, Roszko PJ, Friedrich EE 22(4). 50
Publication Type: Journal Article (Feature Articles)

Abstract:

Background: Surgical cricothyrotomy (SC) is a difficult procedure with high failure rates in the battlefield environment. The difficulty of this procedure is compounded in a low-light tactical environment in which white light cannot be used. This study compared the use of red-green (RG) light and red (R) light in the performance of SC in a low-light environment.

Materials and

Methods: Tactical Combat Casualty Care-certified navy corpsmen (n = 33) were provided 15 minutes of standardized instruction followed by hands-on practice with the Tactical CricKit and the H&H bougie-assisted Emergency Cricothyrotomy Kit. Participants acclimated to a dark environment for 30 minutes before performing SC on a mannequin with both devices using both R and RG light in a randomized order. Application time, success, participant preference, and participant confidence were analyzed.

Results: There were similarly high levels of successful placement (>87.5%) in all four cohorts. Light choice did not appear to affect placement time with either of the two kits. On Likert-scale surveys, participants reported that RG decreased difficulty (p < .0001) and increased confidence (p < .0001) in performing the procedure.

Conclusion: RG light increased confidence and decreased perceived difficulty when performing SC, though no differences in placement time or success were observed.

Keywords: light source; TCCC; red light; bougie-assisted; green
light; white light; cricothyrotomy
PMID: 36525012

DOI: 10.55460/8DR3-B0RH