Emergency cricothyrotomy.

Establishment of an unobstructed airway and adequate oxygenation is a basic tenet of life support. Mechanical or anatomic airway obstructions can arise secondary to trauma, pathology, foreign bodies, and infection. The oral and maxillofacial surgeon is uniquely trained to provide surgical and anesthetic care, and must be prepared to provide emergency airway management. This article reviews the indications, contraindications, and techniques of surgical and needle cricothyrotomy. Fortunately, with advances in airway techniques and equipment, emergency cricothyrotomy is not a common procedure. However, in the event that a surgeon has no other means of securing an airway, this procedure may avert a catastrophe. If such a situation does occur, quick and decisive action can best be carried out if there is a thorough understanding of the anatomy and techniques involved.

Surgical treatment of buccofacial region vascular anomalies using an intraoral buccomucosal flap procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience in and our surgical technique of treating vascular anomalies of the buccofacial region using an intraoral buccomucosal flap approach. DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review and illustration of a specific surgical procedure. SETTING: Academic tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Thirty-two patients with vascular anomalies of the buccofacial region who have been treated using the intraoral buccomucosal flap approach. INTERVENTION: Surgical therapy using an intraoral buccomucosal flap approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical outcomes and complications. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were treated using the intraoral buccomucosal flap approach. The vascular anomalies treated at this site were venous malformations (17 [53.1%]), lymphatic malformations (13 [40.6%]), and hemangiomas (2 [6.3%]). Surgical removal was accomplished without occurrence of facial nerve dysfunction or other morbidity. The most frequent postoperative problem encountered was scarring with lymphatic malformation treatment. CONCLUSION: The intraoral buccomucosal flap procedure is an effective surgical technique for treating vascular anomalies of the buccofacial region.