Published
The main reason to apply cricoid pressure is to be able to check that box on documentation and hopefully not get sued if there's an aspiration. The cricoid pressure itself has been shown to decrease glottic exposure during laryngoscopy (means longer time until plastic is through the cords and the airway is protected), as well as potentially increasing rates of regurgitation. Also several MRI studies have shown that it does not reliably obstruct the esophagus (and this is when it is applied at the right place with the proper force, which it rarely is in practice).
SBURNSTEVEN
18 Posts
My preceptor held cricoid pressure while I intubated a patient considered a full stomach with RSI. After I intubated and inflated the cuff, my preceptor kept holding cricoid pressure and asked "Should I let go?" The answer was no but I didn't know why and can't find it when I try to look it up.....does anyone know why?