Five years experience of coniotomy.

The view held over the last six decades that coniotomy often leads to subglottic stenosis has recently been called into question. In this study 203 electively performed coniotomies were analysed. The operation was found to be much simpler than tracheostomy. No severe intra- or postoperative complications occurred. Six months after decannulation 61 patients operated on were alive and accessible to follow-up examination. No evidence of subglottic stenosis was found. The main disadvantage was a relatively high frequency of voice disorder.