Photo: flickr/stacyinbody
You've probably watched at least one dramatic television scene involving a doctor using a ballpoint pen to perform an emergency airway puncture (if not, here is a particularly awesome one from a Korean doctor drama). So, if you are ever in that particular situation, you know what to do. But what if there is a range of ballpoint pens to choose from... which will you choose?!? Instead of standing there with analysis paralysis, read this:
Airflow efficacy of ballpoint pen tubes: a consideration for use in bystander cricothyrotomy. “OBJECTIVE:To examine the suitability of commonly available ballpoint pens as a substitute emergency tracheostomy tube. METHODS: Commonly available ballpoint pens were examined and compared against two standard cricothyroidotomy sets. The pens were evaluated for dimensions, speed of construction of a temporary tracheostomy tube and airway resistance with differing flow rates. RESULTS: Internal diameters of the pens varied considerably. Time taken ...
