Are Jugular veins cut when doing an emergency tracheotomy?
Patient: HOW FREQUENTLY ARE JUGULAR VEINS CUT WHEN DOING AN EMERGENCY TRACHEOTOMY?  MY FRIEND WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT  COULDN'T GET HER INTUBATED;TRIED TO DO A TRACH;THEN AFTER HER 02 SATS DROPPED TO 15 THEY FINALLY GOT THE TUBE IN...A LITTLE LATE I'M THINKING Doctor: Hi,From you description the tracheotomy was performed under extreme emergency conditions. In these circumstances there would be a significant risk of damaging tissues and structures in the area as the operating conditions would not be ideal. Regards,Dr K A PottingerMBChB. FRCA