If establishment of a secure airway and adequate ventilation require a surgical procedure such as a tracheostomy, tube thoracostomy, or open thoracotomy, this procedure must be precede.
Subsequent surgery to convert a cricothyroidotomy to a tracheostomy or close an emergency thoracotomy may then follow in the OR on an urgent basis.
Hemorrhage is the next most pressing concern because ongoing loss of blood will be fatal in minutes to hours.
Hemorrhage is the next most pressing concern because ongoing loss of blood will be fatal in minutes to hours.
