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TissueDB/Simulators/Cricothyrotomy Simulator (Aho)

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Anatomical reference: laryngeal structures (1) thyroid cartilage, (2) cricothyroid ligament, (3) cricoid cartilage, (4) trachea, with (A) cricothyrotomy and (B) tracheostomy access points labelled. Image by PhilippN, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons; based on Gray's Anatomy plate 951.

The Cricothyrotomy Simulator (Aho) is a low-cost task trainer built from household materials for practising and assessing emergency cricothyrotomy on a layered model of the anterior neck.[1] Emergency cricothyrotomy is the airway of last resort in a "cannot ventilate, cannot intubate" situation: on the model the trainee makes a midline skin incision, bluntly spreads the tissues in the midline to expose the cricothyroid membrane between the thyroid and cricoid cartilages, bluntly perforates it, and inserts an endotracheal tube into the airway.

Field Details
Features and Basic Operation The model reproduces the airway landmarks emergency cricothyrotomy depends on — the thyroid and cricoid cartilages, with the cricothyroid membrane between them, over a trachea-and-larynx core beneath soft tissue and skin. Aho et al. (2015) class it as a low-fidelity model and report that, for learning the procedural steps, low-fidelity cricothyrotomy simulation appears equivalent to high-fidelity simulation, while operator preference for realism favours animal models.
Current Development Status Built and evaluated (Aho et al., J Surg Educ, 2015); demonstrated a degree of construct validity, not clinically validated.
Estimated Build Time and Cost <US$0.10
Specialized Tools and Equipment Procedure instruments the model is used with (Aho et al. 2015): a clamp to spread and hold open the cricothyroid membrane, an endotracheal tube (inserted, twisted into place, and the cuff inflated), and an oxygen source with end-tidal CO2 confirmation for the final step. The source does not name the instrument used for the initial midline incision.
Version Version 1 (first documented version on TissueDB; Aho et al. 2015 state no version designation).
Development Team Contact Information Johnathon M. Aho, MD and colleagues (Cornelius A. Thiels, Yazan N. AlJamal, Raaj K. Ruparel, Phillip G. Rowse, Stephanie F. Heller, and David R. Farley), Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Corresponding author: David R. Farley, MD (farley.david@mayo.edu).

Tissues

Tissue Qty Material Cost Notes
Skin 1 piece Fabric — The model's outer skin layer.
Soft tissue (fat and muscle) 1 Styrofoam tubing — Soft-tissue layer between the skin and the airway.
Thyroid cartilage 1 Cardboard (shaped piece) — Upper (superior) laryngeal landmark.
Cricoid cartilage 1 Zip tie — Lower (inferior) laryngeal landmark, below the thyroid cartilage.
Trachea and larynx 1 Cardboard tube (toilet paper roll) — Airway core and lumen beneath the overlying layers.


Structural Parts

Part Name Qty Material Cost Notes
Thyroid-cartilage fastener — Tape (type not specified in source) — Fixes the cardboard thyroid cartilage to the Styrofoam.


Build Instructions

Phase 1: Assemble the cricothyrotomy model


Empty toilet paper roll. Aho et al. (2015) use such a cardboard tube as the trachea-and-larynx core.[2]


Plastic zip ties. Aho et al. (2015) place one circumferentially as the cricoid-cartilage landmark.[3]


Woven cotton cloth. Aho et al. (2015) wrap fabric over the assembly as the skin layer.[4]


  1. Obtain an empty toilet paper roll (cardboard tube) because Aho et al. use it as the trachea-and-larynx core.
  2. Slide Styrofoam tubing over the toilet paper roll because it simulates the soft tissue overlying the airway.
  3. Cut a separate piece of cardboard into the shape of the thyroid cartilage and tape it to the Styrofoam in the superior position, because the cardboard represents the thyroid-cartilage landmark.
  4. Place a zip tie circumferentially around the Styrofoam just below the cardboard thyroid cartilage because it represents the cricoid cartilage.
  5. Wrap fabric over the whole assembly because it represents the skin the trainee incises first.




References

[2][3][4]

  1. ↑ Aho JM, Thiels CA, AlJamal YN, Ruparel RK, Rowse PG, Heller SF, Farley DR. "Every Surgical Resident Should Know How to Perform a Cricothyrotomy: An Inexpensive Cricothyrotomy Task Trainer for Teaching and Assessing Surgical Trainees." Journal of Surgical Education. 2015;72(4):658–661. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2014.12.012. PMID: 25703738.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Image "TissueDB Aho Component 02 Toilet Paper Roll - TeWeBs CC BY-SA 4.0.jpg" by TeWeBs, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Image "TissueDB Aho Component 01 Zip Ties - Nathanhall78 CC BY-SA 3.0.jpg" by Nathanhall78, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Image "TissueDB Aho Component 03 Cotton Fabric - Clescelius CC BY-SA 3.0.jpg" by Clescelius, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.




Simulator data
Alternative names Inexpensive Cricothyrotomy Task Trainer
Low-Cost Cricothyrotomy Simulator



Page data
Keywords cricothyrotomy, emergency airway, surgical simulation, low-cost simulator, task trainer, cricothyroid membrane, airway management, LMIC, Aho, Mayo Clinic
SDG
Authors Arturopelayo
License CC-BY-SA-4.0
Language English (en)
Related 0 subpages, 7 pages link here
Redirects TissueDB/Simulators/Aho Cricothyrotomy Task Trainer
Views 23 page views (analytics)
Created April 3, 2026 by Arturo Pelayo
Last edit June 22, 2026 by Arturo Pelayo
Cite as Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Cricothyrotomy Simulator (Aho)". Appropedia. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
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