A Retrospective Study of Cricotracheostomy: Indications, Techniques, and Clinical Outcomes

Objectives: Cricotracheostomy (CT) is a surgical procedure for airway access that can be performed using 2 techniques: excising the cricoid cartilage (CTrach), or by creating an inverted U-shaped flap from the first tracheal ring (CTrachT). The aims of this study are to clinically evaluate factors such as patient background, complications, and stoma closure status in patients who underwent CT, and to compare the clinical outcomes between CTrach and CTrachT.

Study design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Setting: Single-institution academic center.

Methods: Records of patients who underwent CT at the University of Tokyo Hospital between 2014 and March 2024 were reviewed, detailing their demographics and clinical characteristics. We investigated differences in clinical backgrounds, complication risks for each surgical procedure, and factors contributing to stoma closure and complications after CT.

Results: The median age for patients undergoing CT was 70 years, predominantly male (76%), and most were malnourished. Common indications included low-lying larynx and obesity. Stoma closure was achieved in 16% of patients. Early complications were surgical site infection (9%) and subcutaneous emphysema (2%), with granuloma formation in 20%. The CTrach group had a significantly higher median age (P = .03), but other factors showed no significant differences. CTrachT was more often performed by board-certified specialists (P = .04). Stoma closure rates and complications were not significantly influenced by any single factor.

Conclusion: CT presents a viable option with minimal postoperative complications for patients wherein conventional tracheotomy may be more challenging, such as in low-lying larynx, obesity, advanced age, and poor nutritional status.