Best evidence topic report. Cricoid pressure in emergency rapid sequence induction.

A short cut review was carried out to establish cricoid pressure reduced aspiration during rapid sequence induction (RSI) of anaesthesia. A total of 241 papers were identified using the reported search, of which three represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results, and study weaknesses of these best papers are tabulated. There is little evidence to support the widely held belief that the application of cricoid pressure reduces the incidence of aspiration during a rapid sequence intubation.