• Ryan F Coughlin, Iris Chandler, John C Binford, James W Bonz, and David C Hile.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
• J Emerg Med. 2017 Dec 1; 53 (6): 885-889.

BackgroundCricothyroidotomy is a lifesaving procedure required in up to 2% of emergent airways. Emergency medicine training programs frequently instruct this procedure via cadaver training, but cadaver cost and availability limit the opportunity for all trainees to perform the critical initial skin incision. Cadaver autografting is a novel way to simulate all steps of the procedure.ObjectiveOur aim was to determine whether the technique of autografting cadaver tissue improves the experience of cricothyroidotomy simulation education for emergency medicine trainees. The investigators hypothesized that autografted cadaver tissue would be a useful adjunct.MethodsIn this prospective crossover study, volunteers were randomized to first perform cricothyroidotomy on previously incised native neck tissue or on autografted tissue, and then vice versa. The autograft consisted of cadaver iliotibial band covered with lateral thigh skin and subcutaneous tissue to simulate cricothyroid membrane and native anterior neck anatomy. Volunteer emergency medicine residents and sub-interns were included. Twenty-seven residents and nine students participated. Outcomes were evaluated via Likert scale.ResultsThirty of 36 (83%) participants agreed or strongly agreed that they preferred cadaver autografting to the previously incised native tissue. Thirty-two of 36 (89%) agreed or strongly agreed that cadaver autografting was useful vs. 23 of 36 (64%) who answered similarly regarding previously incised native tissue (p = 0.001). Twenty-six of 36 (72%) were more comfortable with cricothyroidotomy in the emergency department after using cadaver autografting vs. 19 of 36 (53%) after using the native tissue (p = 0.003).ConclusionsAutografted cadaver tissue while simulating cricothyroidotomy was perceived to be a useful adjunct by the majority of participating emergency medicine trainees.Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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