Cricothyroidotomy: elective use in respiratory problems requiring tracheotomy.

Surgical teachings insist that cricothyroidotomy should be performed only under emergency conditions as a temporary means of securing an airway. Subsequent subglottic stenosis is thought to occur in alarming numbers of patients intubated for any length of time. The incidence of complications associated with cricothyroidotomy has not been critically examined since Jackson's classic paper in 1921, condemning the operation. A total of 655 patients with cricothyroidotomy tubes in place from hours to months were studied to determine the incidence of problems associated with this procedure. The over-all complication rate was 6.1 per cent. There was one cricothyroidotomy-associated death. Chronic subglottic stenosis did not occur, although 5 patients required resection of tracheal strictures. No additional complications occurred if the procedure was carried out at the bedside instead of in the operating room. The simplicity, absence of cross-contamination of median sternotomy incisions, and safety documented by this study recommend routine use of cricothyroidotomy in patients whose management requires tracheotomy.