title: Anterior cricoidotomy for congenital and acquired subglottic stenosis in infants and children.
abstract: Anterior cricoidotomy or "cricoid split" was described in 1980 as an open incisional procedure for failed extubation in neonates. In the past year, we modified the technique to an endoscopic-percutaneous cricoidotomy in 22 patients. We broadened the eligible population to include children with a mature membranous stenosis or a congenital subglottic stenosis. Our overall success rate of 80% (73% in the premature group) demonstrates that a cricoidotomy can be used in children older than the neonatal group and suggests that a cricoidotomy does not need to be an open operative procedure, and should be considered before a tracheotomy in the child with a subglottic injury or narrowing.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery*; D005931:Glottis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007817:Laryngeal Cartilages / Q000601:surgery*; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008722:Methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014140:Tracheotomy