# Needle Cricothyrotomy Connection Options Provide Similar Oxygen Flow Rates

## TL;DR

This study compared different ways to connect a needle cricothyrotomy to an oxygen source and found they all deliver similar oxygen flow rates.

## Contribution

The study empirically compares various catheter-to-oxygen connection setups for needle cricothyrotomy, revealing no significant differences in flow rates.

## Key findings

- All connection setups provided the same oxygen flow rates through the intravenous catheter.
- Certain connection configurations showed practical advantages or disadvantages for specific clinical scenarios.

## Abstract

Needle cricothyrotomy is an emergency airway procedure during which a large-bore intravenous catheter is inserted through the cricothyroid membrane into the trachea. One challenge of this procedure is connecting the intravenous catheter to the oxygen source. Multiple versions of catheter-to-oxygen connections have been described in the literature. We set out to compare the flow of oxygen through these setups to determine if any of the setups were superior to others. We measured the flow out of the intravenous catheter with an oxygen flow meter connected via a 3D-printed adaptor piece. Flow rates were the same through all setups. However, during our experiment, we identified advantages and disadvantages related to the connection configurations, which can be used to determine the best option for the clinical scenario.