Sellick maneuver

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The Sellick (or Sellick's) manoeuvre (sometimes referred to as cricoid pressure) is a method of preventing regurgitation of an anaesthetized patient during endotracheal intubation by applying pressure to the cricoid cartilage. It is named for British anaesthetist Brian Arthur Sellick (1918–1996) who first described the procedure in 1961.^[1]

Method

The Sellick maneuver is performed by applying gentle pressure to the anterior neck at the level of the cricoid cartilage. The Maneuver is used to help align the airway during endotracheal intubation. The reason for performing the Sellick maneuver is to provide a means to prevent gastric contents from leaking into the pharynx, by external obstruction of the oesophagus, which would cause inhaling of substances into the lungs and vomiting during ventilations in an unprotected airway. This method is employed early until a properly placed endotracheal tube has been inserted. Aspiration pneumonitis has a high mortality rate and proper use of this method can minimize its occurrence.

References

• http://www.medstudents.com.br/anest/anest2f1.htm

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