Elective surgical cricothyroidotomy in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

ABSTRACT

Surgical Cricothyroidotomy is regarded as an emergency procedure today even though it has a good evidential record as an elective surgical airway. A misunderstanding of Jackson's landmark paper in 1921 has made the simple and safe procedure unpopular because of the fear of subglottic stenosis. We present the incidence of subglottic stenosis after surgical cricothyroidotomy, discuss evidence for elective surgical cricothyroidotomy, and suggest potential applications in oral and maxillofacial surgery.