Transtracheal Use of the CriCath Cannula in Combination With the Ventrain Device for Prevention of Hypoxic Arrest due to Severe Upper Airway Obstruction: A Case Report.

A patient recently treated with surgery and radiation for oropharyngeal cancer presented with impending hypoxic respiratory and cardiac arrest in a difficult airway scenario. A CriCath cannula in combination with the Ventrain device and its active expiratory ventilation technology enabled oxygenation and ventilation for 60 minutes until a surgical airway was established. This case report is the first to describe the intended use of Ventrain technology in an emergent "can't ventilate-can't intubate" scenario.