A cricoid cartilage compression device for the accurate and
reproducible application of cricoid pressure

Taylor, RJ; Smurthwaite, G; Mehmood, I; Kitchen, GB; Baker, RD

Abstract

We describe the development and laboratory assessment of a refined prototype tactile feedback device for the safe
and accurate application of cricoid pressure. We recruited 20 operating department practitioners and compared their
performance of cricoid pressure on a training simulator using both the device and a manual unaided technique. The
device significantly reduced the spread of the applied force: average (SE) root mean squared error decreased from
8.23 (0.48) N to 5.23 (0.32) N (p < 0.001). The average (SE) upwards bias in applied force also decreased, from 2.30
(0.74) N to 0.88 (0.48) N (p < 0.01). Most importantly, the percentage of force applications that deviated from target
by more than 10 N decreased from 18% to 7% (p < 0.01). The device requires no prior training, is cheap to manufacture,
is single-use and requires no power to operate, whilst ensuring that the correct force is always consistently
applied.

Citation

reproducible application of cricoid pressure. Anaesthesia, 70(1), 18-25. https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.12829

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Feb 4, 2015
• Journal: Anaesthesia
• Print ISSN: 0003-2409
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 70
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 18-25
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.12829
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/anae.12829