In an emergency situation, when someone is choking and all other efforts to assist with breathing have failed, a hollow needle can be inserted into the throat, just below the Adam's apple (cricoid cartilage). In hospital settings, a small skin incision may be made before inserting the needle or tube.

A cricothyrotomy is recommended as an emergency procedure to relieve an airway obstruction until surgical placement of a breathing tube (tracheostomy) can be done.

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Additional risks include trauma to the larynx, thyroid gland, or esophagus.

Emergency airway puncture (cricothyrotomy) can be quite effective in relieving an airway obstruction.

See tracheostomy.