1. Surgical open tracheostomy.
Surgical open tracheostomy. This requires a 3-cm vertical skin incision initiated below the inferior cricoid cartilage. The strap muscles are retracted laterally. The thyroid isthmus is retracted either superiorly or inferiorly or divided. An incision is created in the anterior trachea at the first or second tracheal rings. A sideways “H” incision at the level of the second tracheal ring is ideal and provides an open-book exposure without resection. From Reference 22, with permission.
Nora H Cheung, and Lena M Napolitano Respir Care 2014;59:
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