Cricothyrotomy vs.tracheostomy ?

[Mathias Kalkum]

Bill,

> - snip -  I invented one of the percutaneous tracheostomy kits now marketed and used
> worldwide (except in the USA for reasons that have never been clear) (PORTEX
> Guide wire forceps kit - GRIGGS WM, WORTHLEY LIG, GILLIGAN JE et al: A
> Simple Percutaneous Tracheostomy Technique. Surg. Gyne. Obstets. 1990
> June:170(6);543-545.). 
> http://www.smiths-medical.com/catalog/portex-percutaneous-tracheostomy-kits/
> pct-griggs/

so you invented this device? Congratulations, well done! We have been 
using it here for years after having tried several other manufactures 
stuff and it *is* really great! (and I have no financial interest in 
this... ;-) ) Only today I am going to use your system at the ICU ward 
again and I will happily think of you.

As I am not sure if the discussion was primary on prehospital or 
hospital procedures and because crycotomy seems to play a much smaller 
role in Germany than in other countries (even though we do have 
physicians on scene) I kept in lurking mode. Actually we are in the 
process of rethinking our emergency airway management in my neck of the 
woods, and the Griggs Forceps Kit is for several reasons on top of our list.

Kind regards!

Mathias, Tirschenreuth, Germany