Question: When should cricoid pressure be removed?

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Question: When should cricoid pressure be removed?

Answer: The assistant should only remove cricoid pressure on instruction by the anaesthetist.

In straightforward cases this will be when tracheal intubation is complete, with the tracheal cuff inflated and endotracheal tube position confirmed…"Cricoid off please".

Should the patient start to actively vomit then cricoid pressure should be removed as there is a risk of oesophageal rupture.

In the case of a failed intubation cricoid pressure may need to be released in order to facilitate ventilation by a face mask or insertion of a laryngeal mask for ventilation.