Anterior cricoidotomy for congenital and acquired subglottic stenosis in infants and children.

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.