Use of a gum elastic bougie during surgical crichothyrotomy.

We describe the novel use of a gum elastic bougie to facilitate caudad placement of an endotracheal tube during a field surgical crichothyrotomy. The gum elastic bougie was placed into the surgical incision of the crichothyroid membrane and successfully aided passage of the bougie into the correct position. Based on our review, this has not previously been reported in the literature.