An innovative and inexpensive model for teaching cricothyrotomy.

Cricothyrotomy is considered an integral procedure in the practice of emergency medicine. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires residents in emergency medicine to demonstrate proficiency in this skill, but because cricothyrotomy is rarely encountered in the clinical setting, alternative methods to teach this high-stakes procedure become an important curricular component in residency training. We present an innovative and inexpensive method for teaching cricothyrotomy using animal trachea and synthetic skin.