Decannulation after cricotracheostomy: a comparison of partial cricoid cartilage resection with conventional tracheostomy

Background: Cricotracheostomy, a modified procedure to open the airway with partial cricoid cartilage resection, was recently reported to be useful in selected cases.

Aims/objectives: To examine decannulation outcomes in patients who underwent cricotracheostomy by comparing it with a conventional tracheostomy.

Materials and methods: Data from 127 consecutive adult patients, who underwent either conventional tracheostomy or cricotracheostomy between 2016 and 2019, were collected and analyzed with respect to subsequent decannulation with stoma closure.

Results: Conventional tracheostomy and cricotracheostomy were performed in 94 and 33 patients, respectively. The most frequent reason for choosing cricotracheostomy was a physiological low-lying larynx (n = 12). After excluding 30 patients who were considered ineligible due to their primary disease, subsequent decannulation with stoma closure was achieved in 35 (46%) of 76 cases with conventional tracheostomy and seven (33%) of 21 cases with cricotracheostomy, showing no significant difference (p = .33).

Conclusions/significance: Compared with a conventional tracheostomy, cricotracheostomy had an acceptable decannulation outcome. However, it should be emphasized that an appropriate selection of patients is required on considering the advantages of cricotracheostomy.