Question

Paramedics must use extreme caution when accessing the airway via the cricothyroid membrane because:

A) the cricothyroid membrane is highly vascular and tends to bleed profusely when it is incised.
B) the cricothyroid membrane is bordered laterally and inferiorly by the highly vascular thyroid gland.
C) cricothyrotomy is associated with a high incidence of inadvertent laceration of a carotid artery.
D) the thyroid cartilage is smaller than the cricoid cartilage and makes the cricothyroid membrane difficult to locate.

Answer 1

Paramedics exercise caution when performing a cricothyrotomy because the cricothyroid membrane is near the vascular thyroid gland and there's a risk of bleeding or damaging nearby vital structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

Paramedics must use extreme caution when accessing the airway via the cricothyroid membrane primarily because the cricothyroid membrane is bordered laterally and inferiorly by the highly vascular thyroid gland. Incising this membrane can lead to significant bleeding due to the close proximity of the thyroid gland and its rich vascular supply. Furthermore, performing a cricothyrotomy carries the risk of injury to important structures in the neck such as the carotid arteries or the airway itself. It is critical to correctly locate the cricothyroid membrane, which is situated between the thyroid and cricoid cartilages, to minimize these risks.