Cricothyroidotomy: a decade of experience in Denver.

In an attempt to evaluate cricothyroidotomy as described by Brantigan and Grow in 1976, the authors have reviewed the literature and compared it to the decade of experience following Brantigan and Grow's report. The records of over 1,000 patients requiring ventilatory assistance were reviewed. A comparison of this experience with Brantigan and Grow's original series and subsequent reports was used to establish the criteria and technique for cricothyroidotomy. It appears that while cricothyroidotomy has specific advantages, it also has disadvantages and a higher incidence of airway stenosis than either of the procedures it was designed to replace (low tracheotomy or endotracheal intubation). For this reason, its use has been severely restricted in Colorado, where it was popularized.