CICO
Medical abbreviation · Anesthesia
| Stands for | Can't intubate, can't oxygenate |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
CICO stands for Can't intubate, can't oxygenate, an anesthesia abbreviation.
Airway emergency in which attempts at intubation, face mask ventilation and supraglottic airway placement have all failed and oxygen saturation is falling. The situation demands immediate emergency front-of-neck access, usually a scalpel cricothyroidotomy.
Example: CICO declared at SpO2 72%: scalpel-bougie-tube cricothyroidotomy performed.
Usage notes
Formerly called "can't intubate, can't ventilate" (CICV); the name changed to emphasize oxygenation. The Difficult Airway Society 2015 guidelines teach a scalpel-bougie-tube technique, and declaring CICO aloud helps the team move quickly. Regular simulation training is recommended because the event is rare.
Related abbreviations
More anesthesia abbreviations
- ASA – American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification
- BIS – Bispectral index
- CSE – Combined spinal-epidural
- DL – Direct laryngoscopy
- eFONA – Emergency front-of-neck access
- ESP – Erector spinae plane (block)
- EtCO2 – End-tidal carbon dioxide
- ETT – Endotracheal tube
- FOI – Fiberoptic intubation
- GA – General anesthesia
- GETA – General endotracheal anesthesia
- ISB – Interscalene brachial plexus block
See all 34 anesthesia abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.