Cricothyroidotomy is an emergency procedure and must be performed only when a secure airway needs to be maintained and attempts at orotracheal and nasotracheal intubation have failed.The cricothyroid membrane lies between the thyroid cartilage superiorly and the cricoid cartilage inferiorly. It can be felt by palpating the neck anteriorly and finding first the thyroid cartilage that is the most prominent cartilage in the neck.