Cric'd a woman today. Cricothyroidotomy. Surgical. Emergent. She had a swollen tongue and tight throat. Put her down for the tube and it was a no go. Huge fat tongue totally obstructing the oropharynx. I made an attempt, saw how horrifying it looked in there, called for the cric kit, tried again and then had to go cric this woman. Her pulse ox was plummeting and as I fished around in her neck with my scalpel and hook I saw her face purple and bloat. Got the tube in. Still shaking. Terrifying, terrifying, terrifying. Hope I never, ever have to do that again. Miserable. U-561