Cricotracheostomy: new technique to open an airway in emergencies with partial resection of the cricoid cartilage.

Cricotracheostomy is suitable for use in high-risk situations when urgent endotracheal intubation and conventional open tracheostomy cannot be achieved. We successfully removed the anterior portion of the cricoid cartilage to establish access to the airways in seven patients with cancer of the head and neck without complications, and the stomas were closed in three patients who had no stenosis of the larynx.