Front of neck access to the airway: A narrative review

Abstract The concept of Front of Neck Access (FONA) covers a large amount of techniques, principles, problems and debates. The aim of this review is to discuss the issue of FONA with special regard to the sole cricothyrotomy, including all technical issues starting from landmark identification to different approaches, either surgical or percutaneous. Other open questions remain, such as choice of inner diameter, presence of a cuff, potential advantages of Seldinger based techniques, including bougie assisted ones, timing and decision making. Despite being a simple maneuver, cricothyrotomy remains a very complex concept, which should be a core skill of any physician approaching the airway and as simple as it is, it can make the difference between life and death.