ABSTRACT
Realising the critical situation, the surgeon called for a tracheostomy set, a brighter light and an experienced assistant from another operating room. Amid the buzz of hectic activity in this stressful situation, he tried to remain calm. He reassured himself that the tracheostomy was going to be a straightforward procedure, as he just needed to make an incision through the cricothyroid membrane. With that thought, he placed his fingers to locate the edge of the patient’s thyroid cartilage, but due to the thick fat around the neck, he was unable to feel through it. That made him feel uncertain and hesitant, exactly what a surgeon is not supposed to experience in these situations! He was conscious that time was running out and four minutes without oxygen would leave the patient with brain damage.
