Cricoid pressure: a survey of its practice in India

Abstract

Cricoid pressure (CP) application is performed by most anaesthesiologists during a rapid sequence intubation as a day to day routine; but very few anaesthetists have adequate knowledge or have been given proper instructions of the technique. We conducted a survey of knowledge and practice regarding cricoid pressure application in 360 anaesthesiologists who attended the Annual Scientific meeting of the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists in 2003. There was a uniform lack of knowledge in most participants with widely varying practices being followed. Participants had experienced a high incidence of regurgitation (30%) and difficulty in tracheal intubation (57%) during application of cricoid pressure during their practice. We concluded that a proper technique of application of CP must be emphasized and demonstrated during the training programme for anaesthesiologists and an equal importance in training must be given to the non anaesthetic assistant who performs the maneuver in most instances in our country.

Keywords

• Cricoid pressure
• Knowledge
• Training