Background
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Emergent cricothyrotomy is the ultimate life-saving procedure for patients classified as ‘cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate’ [CTM identification may be achieved using a palpation technique, which has been described as a ‘conventional technique’, ‘general technique’, or ‘top-down manoeuvre’ [The ‘bottom-up manoeuvre’ is informally known by some clinicians but rarely reported. Additionally, the effectiveness of the manoeuvre has never been investigated. This study aimed to examine whether the bottom-up manoeuvre is equivalent to the top-down manoeuvre in accuracy and time required for success among medical students first instructed in both techniques and without any prior cricothyrotomy experience. We hypothesised that the bottom-up manoeuvre was equivalent to the top-down manoeuvre. The present findings may help expand the options for CTM identification.